THE
 
 16085 
 
 a
 
 EPICS AND ROMANCES 
 OF THE MIDDLE AGES.
 
 FRONTISPIECE.
 
 'V 
 
 attxl I 
 
 (Df tltc pMxttUe 
 
 ADAPTED BY M. W. MACDOWALL, FROM THE WORK OF 
 
 DR. W. WAGNER, 
 
 AND EDITED BY 
 
 W. S. W. ANSON, 
 
 Editor of Dr. Wagners "Asgard and the Gods: the Tales and 
 Traditions of our Northern Ancestors." 
 
 tDitl) iXtimcrons JHInstrations. 
 
 FOURTH THOUSAND. 
 
 NEW YORK : 
 FORDS, HOWARD, & HULBERT. 
 
 1887.
 
 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 T EGEND is not history; but in legend we find embodied 
 historical truths, manners and customs of past ages, beliefs 
 and superstitions otherwise long forgotten, of which history itself 
 takes no account. Legend has preserved for us, maybe in 
 romantic dress, maybe under altered names and circumstances, 
 stirring pictures of heroes and heroines, who once have lived and 
 suffered, fought and conquered, or have faced death with trustful 
 courage ; pictures, too, of men of equal prowess, as strong in evil 
 as in might, who, victorious for a time, have yet ever met a stronger 
 power than theirs, stronger in virtue, stronger in might. 
 
 As we write, the shadowy forms of terrific Alboin raising aloft 
 his goblet fashioned from royal skull ; the noble Siegfried with 
 his loved Chriemhild and the jealous Brunhild ; brave King' 
 Dietrich ; the gentle, patient Gudrun and her beauteous mother 
 Hilde, all flit before the mind, framing themselves into a vivid 
 picture, such as must have lived in the imagination of our early 
 forefathers, stirring them on to noble actions, restraining them
 
 8 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 from evil working. Thus has good in all ages fought against ill, 
 and all races of men have sung its victory in strains but slightly 
 varying. And so will it ever fight, no matter how our more 
 elaborate ideas of what is good or evil may vary : the nation 
 always glorifies the great and noble according to its own un- 
 reasoning reason. 
 
 This volume contains the principal hero-lays of the six great 
 epic cycles of the Teutonic Middle Ages, and to them we have 
 added the great mythical Carolingian cycle, which centred round 
 the persons of Charlemagne and his heroes. The latter is mostly 
 of Romance origin, and was composed by court troubadours for 
 the delight of the royal palace, wherefore it never became the 
 true inheritance of the masses. Beside these French poems, 
 stand the Breton ones of King Arthur and his Knights of the 
 Round Table, which later on took up the legend of the Holy 
 Grail into their very heart, and at this period found their way to 
 Germany, where they met with a more romantic and poetic treat- 
 ment at the hands of the court minnesingers. But these foreign 
 importations never found a true home amongst the German 
 people ; they never became popular. The native hero-lays on 
 the other hand, even though less beautiful in conception and in 
 form, lived on through centuries, and even to this day exist, 
 though disguised and degraded. For in the market-places of 
 Germany, and at the few old English fairs that yet remain, 
 the pedlar bookseller gives in exchange for the farthing piece 
 printed versions of many of these old legendary tales : Siegfried's 
 battle with the Dragon, the Rose-garden, Alberic and Elbegast's 
 adventures, and other wondrous histories of Teutonic epical
 
 INTRODUCTION 
 
 origin. But this literature is fast dying out, if, indeed, it may not 
 by this time be said to be already dead. In Iceland, however, and 
 in the Faroe Isles, tradition still holds her throne unconquered. 
 She yet sings to the listening greybeards, to the men and women, 
 and to the growing youth, of Odin and his mighty rule, of Honir 
 and the wicked Loki, of Thor and Frey, and Freya Queen of 
 Heaven, of the Fenris-wolf and the Midgard-serpent. In the 
 long winter nights she still tells of bold Sigurd's (Siegfried) 
 deeds and battles, of Gudrun's faithful love and dumb grief 
 beside the body of her lord, of Gunnar's marvellous harping in the 
 garden of snakes, and the listeners hold it all in their memory, 
 that they may sing and tell it to their children and their children's 
 children. And so do they cherish the time-old legends of their 
 fathers, that the ardent youth may still be heard to adjure his 
 bride to love him " with the love of Gudrun," the master revile his 
 dishonest workmen as " false as Regin " (the evil dwarf), and the 
 old men to shake their heads and say of the daring lad, that he is 
 "a true descendant of the Wolsings." At the dance, Sigurd-songs 
 are yet sung, at Christmastide a grotesque Fafnir takes his part 
 in the mummery. Thus old German tradition in her wane has 
 found an asylum, perhaps a last resting-place, in the far North, 
 driven from their first home by strangers, the myths of Greece and 
 Rome. Every schoolboy can tell of Zeus and Hera, of Achilles 
 and Odysseus, every schoolgirl of the golden apples of the 
 Hesperides, of Helen, of Penelope ; yet to how many of our older 
 folks, even, are the grand forms of Siegfried, Chriemhild, and 
 Brunhild more than mere names? 
 
 It is true that a tendency is now springing up in England and
 
 to INTRODUCTION. 
 
 in Germany once more to enquire into these old tales, nay beliefs/ 
 of our common ancestry. It is true that we have a Morris and 
 they a Wagner ; but we should wish to see the people of both 
 nations take a more general interest, in a subject of such intrinsic 
 worth to them, their long-forgotten heritage. It is not the history 
 of class-books that they, will find in it it is that of their fathers' 
 manners and customs, of their joys and sufferings, their games and 
 occupations, festivals and religious observances, battles, victories 
 and defeats^ their virtues and their crimes. Such is the golden 
 field that lies beneath our feet, which, unheeded, we have let lie 
 fallow, till it has almost faded from memory. 
 
 In a previous volume, Asgard and the Gods, the Tales and 
 Traditions of our Northern Ancestors, we have endeavoured to 
 give an account of the religion of our ancient Norse parents. In 
 this volume we are occupied with their legendary lore. 
 
 To what extent these legends formed a part of their religion 
 proper it is impossible for us now to say. Of later origin and 
 more poetic treatment, they stood in a similar position toward the 
 old Teutons as the later Greek heroic legend stood to the Greeks 
 of history. Some say, and the learned Grimm amongst them,* 
 that the heroes were historical men raised to the dignity of gods, 
 others that they were humanized gods themselves ; but may be 
 neither theory is exactly true, though both contain a portion of 
 the truth. In the hero-legends we certainly find heroes possessed 
 of the distinctive attributes of certain gods, and we are tempted 
 to add others to their characters, but we consider that these divine 
 
 * "Teutonic Mythology," translated by J. S. Stallybrass. Vol. 5. p. 315.
 
 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 ii 
 
 qualities were looked upon rather as divine gifts of the gods and 
 did not thereby exactly deify the recipients. It was similar with 
 the Greeks, and perhaps with all nations at a stage when their 
 heroes really formed an essential element in their belief. The 
 gods were never human heroes, the heroes never became gods, 
 though each approached the other so nearly that we are often 
 misled into assuming that they were identical. 
 
 W. S. W. ANSON.
 
 CONTENTS, 
 
 PART FIRST. 
 
 THE AMELUNG AND KINDRED LEGENDS. 
 I. LANGOBARDIAN LEGENDS. 
 
 i. ALBOIN AND ROSAMUND 
 
 z. KING ROTHER. 
 
 3. ORTNIT .... 
 
 II. THE AMELUNGS. 
 
 I. HUGDIETERICH AND WOLFDIETERICH . 
 2.. KING SAMSON 
 
 3. DlETWART 
 
 III. DIETRICH OF BERN. 
 
 1. DIETRICH AND HILDEBRAND 
 
 2. DIETRICH'S COMRADES 
 
 3. DIETRICH'S ADVENTURES . . 
 
 4. DIETRICH THE FAITHFUL ALLY ...'., 
 
 5. ERMENRICH THE HARLUNGS 
 
 6. KING ETZEL WALTER OF WASGENSTEIN HILDEGUNDE , 
 
 13 
 
 PAGE 
 19-27 
 28-54 
 55-81 
 
 82-114 
 115-124 
 125-135 
 
 152-172 
 173-190 
 191-198 
 199-208 
 209-213
 
 u CONTENTS. 
 
 PAGE 
 
 7. ETZEL AND DIETRICH AGAINST THE REUSSEN .... 214-215 
 
 8. THE BATTLE OF RAVENNA 216-221 
 
 9. GOING HOME 222-226 
 
 PART SECOND. 
 
 THE NI BE LUNG AND KINDRED LEGENDS. 
 
 I. THE NIBELUNQ HERO. 
 
 1. SIEGFRIED'S YOUTH 229-237 
 
 2. SIEGFRIED IN BURGUNDY 238-242 
 
 3. THE DRAGONSTONE . . . . . . . . . 243-252 
 
 4. THE WOOING OF BRUNHILD 253-260 
 
 5. TREASON AND DEATH 261-273 
 
 II. THE NIBELUNGS' WOE. 
 
 1. KING ETZEL'S WOOING . ....... 274-278 
 
 2. THE BURGUNDIANS VISIT HUNLAND 279-299 
 
 3. THE NIBELUNGS' LAMENT 300-306 
 
 III. THE HEGELING LEGEND. 
 
 1. HAGEN . . . . 307-314 
 
 2. HETTEL THE HEGELING AND HIS HEROES 315-320 
 
 3. GUDRUN 321-330 
 
 4. QUEEN GERLIND .... . 331-339 
 
 5. BATTLE AND VICTORY 340-346 
 
 IV. BEOWULF. 
 
 1. GRENDEL . . . . 347-348 
 
 2. BEOWULF, THE BOLD DIVER. . . . . . . 349-354 
 
 3. THE SHE-WOLF OF THE SEA. . . ' 354-357 
 
 4. BEOWULF is MADE KING . . 357-359 
 
 5. THE FIGHT WITH THE DRAGON ....... 359-364
 
 CONTENTS. 15 
 
 PART THIRD. 
 
 L THE CAROLINGIAN LEGENDS. 
 
 PAGE 
 
 1. THE CHILDREN OF HAYMON 367-396 
 
 2. ROLAND . . 397~47 
 
 3. WILLIAM OF ORANGE . 408-418 
 
 //. LEGENDS OF KING ARTHUR AND THE HOLY GRAIL. 
 
 1. TlTUREL 419-426 
 
 2. PERCIVAL 427~45 2 
 
 3. LOHENGRIN 453-462 
 
 4. TRISTRAM AND ISOLD 463-474 
 
 ///. TANNHAUSER. 
 
 LEGEND OF TANNHAUSER 475-4^2
 
 PART FIRST. 
 
 THE AMELUNG AND KINDRED LEGENDS. 
 
 I. LANGOBARDIAN LEGENDS. 
 II. THE AMELUNGS. 
 IIL DIETRICH OF BERN.
 
 ALBOIN INSULTED BY THE GEPID/E. 
 
 LANGOBARDIAN 
 LEGENDS. 
 
 ALBOIN AND ROSAMUND. 
 
 ALBOIN. 
 
 N TROUBLED by the conscien- 
 tious scruples of the historian, the 
 poet throws the glamour of his genius over the events he 
 relates, when taking for his theme the great deeds of the past, 
 he strives to make them live in the hearts of his hearers. 
 
 The story of Alboin and Rosamund has a strictly historical
 
 20 LANGOBARD1AN LEGENDS. 
 
 foundation, although many poetic liberties have been taken with 
 it. For instance, it is contrary to fact that the heroes of this and 
 the following tale were predecessors of Theoderic, for Alboin did 
 not march into Italy at the head of his Langobards until the year 
 568 A.D., whereas Theoderic died in 526, and his Gothic empire 
 was destroyed in 553. Nevertheless we give the stories in their 
 poetical order, as the natural connection between them is thus 
 kept up. 
 
 The Germanic Gepidae and Langobards and the Asiatic Avars 
 were inhabitants of Pannonia (i.e. Hungary and the neighbouring 
 provinces) at the time this story begins. War and hunting were 
 the occupations of the freemen, while the serfs tended the flocks 
 and herds, and cultivated the land. 
 
 Now it happened that Alboin, son of the Langobardian ruler 
 Audoin, conquered and slew a son of Thurisind, king of the 
 Gepidae, in fair fight. He then took possession of the armour 
 of his vanquished foe, and bore it in his arms to his father's hall, 
 just as the warriors of his race were assembling there to hold 
 high festival. He would have joined them, but his father forbade 
 him, saying that it had always been held by the sages of the olden 
 time, that no prince was worthy to sit at the table of heroes until 
 he had been given a suit of mail by some foreign king. The 
 young man snatched up his battle axe, but remembering in time 
 that it was his father who stood before him, turned and left the 
 hall. He mounted his charger, and set out with his train for the 
 land of the Gepidae. He arrived at the royal stronghold when 
 King Thurisind was feasting with the princes of his people. 
 
 Alboin approached the king, and placing himself under pro- 
 tection of the laws of hospitality, begged that he might be 
 furnished with a suit of armour forthwith. The Gepidae were 
 displeased with the boldness of his manner, but Thurisind re- 
 ceived him kindly, and gave him a seat at his side.
 
 ALBOIN AND ROSAMUND. 21 
 
 Many beakers were drunk, and the conversation at table grew 
 more and more unfriendly, for Kunemund, the king's eldest son, 
 was angry and jealous at a stranger being given his place beside 
 the king. To prevent further disagreement, Thurisind sent for the 
 minstrels to come and enliven the company. 
 
 They came. They sang the glorious deeds of their forefathers, 
 and especially those done by Aldarich, who destroyed the power 
 of the Huns. Lastly, they called upon the young men before 
 them to follow in the footsteps of their ancestors, careless whether 
 Fortune rewarded their efforts or not. 
 
 " Yes," said Kunemund when the song was ended, " Fortune is 
 blind and throws her favours at the feet of mean-spirited creatures 
 with white bands round their knees, that make them look for 
 all the world like white-legged hacks, and every one knows it takes 
 a deal of beating to make them go ! " 
 
 The Langobards always wore the white bands alluded to, so 
 they knew that the scornful words were directed against them. 
 Alboin's blood was up in a moment. He started to his feet and 
 told Kunemund to go to the place where he had fought his 
 brother, and there he would see how shrewdly the " white-legged 
 hacks " could kick. 
 
 A tumult immediately arose, which was with difficulty calmed 
 by the old king, who then gave Alboin the armour he had craved, 
 and sent him away with his followers without loss of time, lest 
 worse should come of it, and the rights of hospitality be broken. 
 
 As Alboin rode away he passed Rosamund, Kiinemund's fair 
 little daughter, who was playing at shuttlecock with her maidens, 
 and as he passed he looked at her long and earnestly. 
 
 ROSAMUND. 
 
 Peace lasted between the Langobards and Gepidae while the 
 old kings Audoin and Thurisind lived, but after their death a
 
 22 LANGOBARDIAN LEGENDS. 
 
 bloody feud broke out between the rival tribes. At length 
 Kunemund and many of the noblest Gepidae fell under the axes 
 of Alboin and his people. Upon which the Langobardian king 
 had his enemy's skull set as a goblet in a silver rim, and used it 
 for drinking solemn toasts at the great feasts. Then he married 
 Rosamund, and she, poor soul, hated him as the murderer of 
 her father. She had to feign love, though she would willingly 
 have strangled her husband with her own hands. She bore her 
 lot as well as might be, all the while nursing the secret hope that 
 she might one day avenge her father's death. 
 
 Alboin had no idea of the thoughts that filled his wife's heart. 
 Tntent on conquest, he crossed the Alps into Italy at the head 
 of his own people, of those Gepidae who had followed the 
 fortunes of their princess, and of other adventurers who had joined 
 his train. This he did in response to an invitation from the 
 Roman general Narses, victor over the Ostrogoths, who feeling 
 himself slighted by the imperial court, had determined on ven- 
 geance. Alboin carried all before him, and destroyed every town 
 and fortress that did not at once open its gates to receive him. 
 Pavia alone offered a long resistance. During his three years' 
 siege of that city, the Langobardian king made raids into the 
 neighbouring country and brought it under his rule. One warrior 
 alone was equal to him in prowess, and that was Peredeus, a giant, 
 who was said to possess the strength of twelve ordinary men. At 
 last the gates of Pavia opened, and Alboin, who had sworn to 
 put the inhabitants to fire and sword, rode in under the archway. 
 Just then his horse stumbled, and a priest exclaimed that this 
 was an omen that he should die a violent death if he kept his 
 word. The king believed the warning, forgave, and spared the 
 city.
 
 ALBOIN FORCES ROSAMUND TO DRINK OUT OF HER FATHER'S SKULL.
 
 ALBOIN AND ROSAMUND. 25 
 
 THE REGICIDE. 
 
 Alboin gave a great feast to his warriors, at which much of the 
 fiery wine of the south was consumed. The talk of the guests 
 was of the great deeds of Wodan, the god of battles, and how 
 he and Frigga had led their fathers to victory ; then they spoke 
 of their own conquest of the Gepidoe and their victories in Italy. 
 
 In the midst of this, Alboin, intoxicated with wine and pride, 
 commanded that the goblet made out of Ku'nemund's skull should 
 be brought, and turning to queen Rosamund desired her to pledge 
 him it. She hesitated. " Why," he cried, " know you not, 
 Rosamund, that I love you more than aught in the world besides ? 
 Show me now your love and obedience by doing what I bid you." 
 She looked at him in silent entreaty, but her hesitation aroused 
 his anger. He raised his hand to strike her and then she lifted 
 her murdered father's skull to her lips. None could tell whether 
 she drank or not, for, flinging the goblet on the table so violently 
 that the wine ran out, she said, " I have obeyed you, but you 
 have lost your wife." Having uttered these words, she rose and 
 left the room. 
 
 A hoarse murmur of indignation passed from mouth to mouth, 
 for no one approved of what the king had done. And he, 
 suddenly sobered by his wife's words and action, got up and 
 left the hall. 
 
 Alboin did not see Rosamund again until the following day, 
 when she went about her usual duties quietly. The insult seemed 
 to be forgiven and forgotten. But Rosamund could neither forgive 
 nor forget She dreamed of vengeance. At last she persuaded 
 Helmigis, the king's shield-bearer, to murder his master ; but 
 when the moment for action came, he feared to do the deed. 
 So the queen turned to Peredeus for help, and by means of 
 flattery and sweet words brought him over to her side. One
 
 26 LANGOBARDIAN LEGENDS. 
 
 evening he slipt into the king's room and slew him. Before 
 Alboin's death became known, the conspirators, of whom there 
 were many, got possession of the royal treasure, and hid it away 
 in a secret place. Soon after this, Rosamund announced her 
 betrothal to Helmigis, and named him as Alboin's successor in 
 royal power. 
 
 The nobles assembled to debate this point, and, after much 
 discussion, it was agreed by a large majority that the murderer 
 of the great Alboin was the last man who ought to succeed 
 him ; that he should rather be punished for his crime. Hearing 
 how matters were going on in the council, the conspirators fled. 
 
 THE RETRIBUTION. 
 
 Guarded by her faithful Gepidae, Rosamund and her accomplices 
 reached Ravenna in safety with the treasure they had carried 
 away with them. There they placed themselves under the pro- 
 tection of Longinus, exarch or viceroy of the Eastern emperor. 
 They had not been there long when Longinus, having fallen 
 desperately in love with the fair widow, or with the wealth of 
 which she was possessed, asked Rosamund to marry him, and 
 she at once consented on condition that the viceroy freed her 
 from Helmigis, to whom she was already bound. Longinus gave 
 her a cup of wine mixed with a deadly poison, telling her to give 
 it to Helmigis the next time he complained of thirst. This she 
 did. Her victim drained half the goblet at a draught. The 
 poison was so strong that he immediately felt he was doomed, 
 and drawing his sword, forced her to finish what he had left. 
 Thus the murderers died, and their great treasure fell into the 
 hands of the Roman viceroy. But the story tells us that wealth 
 did not make him happy, and that it was the ultimate cause of 
 his death. 
 
 We have still to learn what became of Peredeus, the giant. He
 
 ALBOIN AND ROSAMUND. 27 
 
 was so used to deeds of violence that he thought the murder of 
 Alboin a mere nothing. Placing himself at the head of a band 
 of Gepidae, he set out for Constantinople and offered his services 
 to the emperor. His great strength gained him a high position 
 at court, and raised him in his master's favour. As time went on 
 he became discontented with the treatment he received, thinking 
 it hardly consistent with the gratitude he deserved for his manifold 
 services. Some of his angry words were repeated to his master, 
 who determined to make him powerless to hurt the throne. One 
 night, when Peredeus was snoring off the effects of a drunken 
 orgy, a number of men crept into his room, chained him hand 
 and foot, and put out his eyes. His howls of pain were so terrible 
 that they made all in the palace and neighbourhood tremble. 
 
 The blind giant showed himself quiet and obedient, so that his 
 guards ceased to fear him, but still they never took off his chains 
 until one evening he begged to be allowed to wrestle before the 
 emperor, maintaining that his strength was unabated. He was 
 led into the great hall, and there, amid the general applause, 
 proved himself as mighty an athlete as he had ever been. Sud- 
 denly he heard the emperor's voice, and dashing in that direction 
 plunged a knife he had concealed about his person into the hearts 
 of two great officials of the court, whom he mistook for the 
 emperor. A few minutes more and he had fallen under the spears 
 of the body-guard. 
 
 So, one by one, the murderers of Alboin all came to a violent 
 end, and the Langobards, for want of their leader, failed to gain 
 full possession of the fair southern land they had come to regard 
 as their own. 
 
 Occasionally their power was revived for a time by some able 
 king, such as Rotharis (636-52) the subject of the following 
 legend, till it was finally broken by Charlemagne the Frank (774).
 
 LANGOBARDIAN LEGENDS. 
 
 KING ROTHER PUTS THE SHOES UN 
 THE PRINCESS'S FEET. 
 
 KING ROTHER 
 (RUOTHER). 
 
 THE TWELVE MESSENGERS. 
 
 JAR! is the name of an Italian 
 town which, small and unim- 
 portant as it is now, was once a mighty sea-port In those old 
 days the harbour was deep and large and full of ships, while in 
 the town itself were numerous palaces and houses surrounded 
 by gardens and orange-groves. % 
 
 Here it was that the great and glorious King Rother, the 
 father of his people and the terror of his foes, held court amongst 
 the dukes, counts and nobles of the land. The race-course was 
 close to the sea, and there the young warriors were wont to
 
 KING ROTHER. 29 
 
 congregate, to throw the spear and practise such sports as teach 
 agility, while the women and maidens looked on and distributed 
 prizes to the successful candidates for honour. 
 
 One day King Rother was seated on his throne surrounded 
 by his counsellors, watching now the people, now the sports, and 
 now the restless waves that were beating against the shore. 
 There was a troubled look upon his face. Turning to his old 
 and faithful banner-bearer, Duke Berchther of Meran, who sat 
 beside him, " Look," he said, " do you see how the waves raise 
 their foam-crowned heads high in the air, dash forward, and then 
 vanish without leaving a trace behind ? The kings of the earth 
 resemble them in this, so indeed do all men." 
 
 " What do you say ? " cried the duke. " Do you not hear how 
 many songs are sung in your praise ? Know you not that such 
 songs live on from generation to generation, and that your name 
 and deeds will therefore be spoken of with admiration till the 
 end of time ? " 
 
 " That is poor comfort," replied the king. " What is the future 
 to me, when the present is so tame and joyless ? A happy home 
 were better to me than the songs of which you speak. There 
 go your seven sons, bold Leupold at their head, their helmets 
 wreathed in token of victory. You live a second life in them, 
 and their love will sustain you in your old age. What good 
 is my throne to me ? I have not wife nor child. I shall wither 
 Vke an old tree, or become the laughing-stock of children in my 
 age!" 
 
 " Then why do you not marry ? " asked the duke, laughing 
 heartily. " You are in your prime and a famous warrior. You 
 might pick and choose any one you liked for a wife, no one would 
 say you nay, from a simple maiden to a high-born princess." 
 
 "You say that I am free to choose," said Rother bitterly; 
 " kings are more fettered in their choice than other men. They
 
 30 LANGOBARDIAN LEGENDS. 
 
 must marry in their own degree, or their children cannot succeed 
 them, and may even live to curse them. I have travelled in many 
 lands, but I have never yet seen the princess I could have wished 
 to make my wife." 
 
 " Nay then, sire, if you are so hard to please," returned 
 Berchther after a deep and thoughtful silence ; " I think I know 
 of a lady who might suit you, if you are willing to risk your head 
 for her sake." 
 
 The king desiring further information, Berchther showed him 
 the portrait of a lovely girl, who, he said, was the daughter of 
 the Emperor of Constantinople. Rother could not take his eyes 
 off the picture, and exclaimed that she, and she alone, must be 
 his wife. 
 
 " Very good, my lord," said Berchther ; " but that is a more 
 difficult matter to bring about than you think. I must explain 
 what I mean. The Emperor Constantine is so devoted to his 
 daughter that he will not part with her ; and if any man be 
 he count, duke or king is bold enough to go and ask for her 
 hand, he at once orders his head to be cut off. And what is 
 the good of a headless wooer ? " 
 
 " I think," answered Rother, " that I shall meet with a better 
 reception than that. The emperor of the East will know how 
 to bear himself to the ruler of the West. But now call my 
 counsellors together, that I may tell them what I intend to do." 
 
 When the council was assembled, the king told his ministers 
 the whole story, adding in conclusion that he intended to do his 
 wooing in person. They strongly dissuaded him from this, upon 
 the plea, that the king, being the chief of the state, had no right 
 to endanger its safety by risking his head unnecessarily. Rother 
 at last gave way, much against his will. The debate as to wli ) 
 should go to Constantinople lasted a long time, for each man 
 felt that his head was of at least as much value to himself as the
 
 KING ROTHER. 3I 
 
 king's could possibly be to the state. Then Leupold, Berchther's 
 brave son, rose with six of his brothers, and declared in their 
 name and his own that they were ready to go as soon as the 
 ships were fitted out for the journey ; whereupon five noble 
 counts, emulating the valour of these seven, announced their 
 willingness to accompany them. 
 
 Preparations were made for the departure of the twelve ambas- 
 sadors, and at last the day came on which they were to set sail. 
 Just before the anchors were lifted, the king came down to the 
 harbour, his gold-stringed harp in his hand, and sang them a 
 farewell song, so strangely sweet and stirring that it moved them 
 as Wodan's songs used to move the hearts of their fathers in 
 the olden time. It seemed to them as though the god of battles 
 were calling on them to be up and doing. The music ceased ; 
 and then Rother took leave of them, saying, " If ever you are in 
 need, and you hear that song, you may know that I am near 
 and will help you." 
 
 The hawsers were unloosed and the ship set sail. After a 
 voyage that lasted for days and weeks, the travellers sighted the 
 Golden Horn, the port of Constantinople ; and as the sun was 
 rising over the city, they landed at the wharf. They dressed 
 themselves in velvet and heavy gold brocade, and cloaks trimmed 
 with ermine. Every one turned to gaze after them as they passed 
 up the street towards the palace. None knew who they were 
 or whence they came, but all thought they must be the ambas- 
 sadors of some mighty prince. 
 
 The emperor was yet in bed, dreaming of the feasts and 
 carousals in which his heart delighted, when the empress awoke 
 him, and said, " Get up, Constantine ; the messengers of a great 
 king have come to see you. They bring tidings of vast impor- 
 tance. You must receive them with all due honour and respect." 
 
 When the emperor was ready, he desired the ambassadors to
 
 32 LANGOBARDIAN LEGENDS. 
 
 be brought to him in the throne-room, where he received them 
 courteously. At first all went well. Constantine was pleased 
 that his friendship and alliance should be sought by the ruler 
 of the West, and expressed his delight in no scant terms ; but 
 when Leupold went on to say that his royal master had also 
 commissioned him to ask in his name for the hand of the Princess 
 Oda, the emperor's wrath knew no bounds, and he ordered his 
 guards to seize the " foreign hounds " and cast them into prison. 
 
 When the guards had left the hall with the twelve ambassadors, 
 Constantine began to pace the floor, rubbing his hands, and 
 muttering, "Behead, drown, hang which shall it be? Ah, it 
 were best to hang them. It would be a grand sight ! Twelve 
 fine gentlemen in gorgeous raiment brought at once to the 
 gallows. St. Maurice grant that the wondrous spectacle may 
 bring us glory ! " 
 
 " Constantine," said the kindly empress, " beware what you 
 do. Is our beautiful daughter never to marry ? Would it not 
 be a good thing to give her to King Rother, arid let her rule 
 the West with him, as we the East ? If you slay the messengers 
 he has sent, Rother will assuredly ally himself with the heathen 
 king of Desert-Babylon, and, with his help, seek your destruction." 
 
 "St. Michael and his holy angels will protect us against the 
 might of the godless host of infidels," replied the emperor 
 sanctimoniously. 
 
 " Ah," said the prudent wife, " do not be too sure of that. 
 He has other things to do. He has to fight for the conversion 
 and salvation of the wild heathen tribes. Take my advice, 
 and keep Rother's messengers as hostages, that our hands may 
 be strengthened when their king comes over the western sea 
 and demands them from us at the head of his army." 
 
 The counsel pleased the emperor, and he gave orders that 
 the prisoners should be well guarded.
 
 KING ROTHR. 
 
 THE SAILING OF THE HEROES. 
 
 The weeks and months rolled into a year, and still the anv 
 bassadors did not return to Bari. Every heart was full of an 
 undefined dread. Had they perished at sea, or at the hands 
 of the cruel tyrant to whom they had been sent ? None could 
 answer. 
 
 Old Berchther one day went to the king, and said, " Sire, my 
 heart is sad. I can bear my sorrow no longer. I had twelve 
 goodly sons. Helfrich, the eldest, was slain fighting the barbarians 
 near the Elbe in the far north. Seven have gone to Constantinople 
 in your service, and have never returned. I will go and see if 
 I can find them." 
 
 "You must not go alone," returned the king. "I will call a 
 meeting of the royal council, and ask my wise advisers what 
 were best to be done." 
 
 After a stormy discussion, in which weighty arguments were 
 often enforced with still weightier blows, it was determined to 
 follow the advice of the eldest counsellors. These aged and 
 
 O 
 
 reverend men were of opinion that it would be bad policy to 
 send an army against Constantinople ; for were the messengers 
 still alive, the emperor would assuredly put them to death when 
 he found that Rother had appeared in the guise of an enemy. 
 It would be far better, they contended, to send a richly ap- 
 pointed embassage, composed of good men and true, to spy 
 out the land, and see if it were not possible to save their 
 friends, and gain the hand of the princess at the same time. 
 
 King Rother announced his intention of placing himself at 
 the head of the expedition, and as Berchther refused to be left 
 behind, Count Amelger of Tengeling was appointed regent. 
 
 Preparations for their departure went on apace. Noble warriors
 
 LANCOBARDIAN LEGENDS. 
 
 came from all parts of the kingdom to offer their services. 
 Among those accepted were twelve men who were so tall and 
 so heavy, that they could nowhere have found horses strong 
 enough to bear their weight. King Rother alone knew who they 
 were, and he received them as old and trusted friends. They 
 were Asprian (Osbern), chief of the Northern giants, and eleven 
 of his tallest men. 
 
 At length all was ready, and the ship set sail amidst a blare 
 of trumpets. A fair wind filled the sheets, which were edged 
 with cloth of silver, and the vessels glided through the glassy 
 deep as if drawn by swans. The king stood high on the deck 
 of his galley : when he touched his harp and sang of woman's 
 love and manly courage, the hearts of the heroes were fired 
 to deeds of daring. And the mermaids and dolphins dipt their 
 heads out of the waves, and played about the prows, and listened 
 to the lay. 
 
 Then Rother called his chiefs about him, and told them that 
 he intended to go cunningly to work when he got to Constanti- 
 nople. He would introduce himself to the emperor as Dietrich, 
 a noble of King Rother's country, who had been outlawed by 
 his sovereign, and who now craved Constantine's protection. 
 He further desired them to begin at once to call him by his 
 assumed name, that they might make no mistakes on their 
 arrival. 
 
 The voyage was uneventful, and the adventurers soon reached 
 their destination. 
 
 The first to land were "Dietrich" and old Berchther, and then 
 followed the flower of Rother's army. Lastly the giants appeared, 
 inspiring awe and fear in every heart. All were clothed like 
 
 princes in splendid attire and with jewelled armour. 
 
 The empress received the strangers with courtly grace, and 
 
 even the emperor looked pleased to see them. " Strangers,"
 
 KING ROTHER'S VOYAGE.
 
 -
 
 KING ROTHER. 37 
 
 he said, " we should like to know from whence you come, who you 
 are, and what brings you to our good city. Before granting 
 you permission to remain here, we would fain know more about 
 you." 
 
 " Mighty sovereign of Greece, Hungary and Bulgaria," answered 
 Dietrich, " we come from the realm of King Rother, where I bore 
 the title and power of duke. I helped my liege lord in all his 
 battles ; but as I was always victorious, he grew jealous of my 
 good fortune, and I had to fly for my life. I have come here as 
 a fugitive with my faithful vassals, and all the wealth I could 
 carry, and now I entreat of you to grant me your protection, 
 for which I will repay you by faithful service in the field." 
 
 "You are an honest man," replied the emperor, "and you 
 shall receive a fitting welcome. I was afraid at first that you 
 had come on the same errand as the ambassadors of King 
 Rother, who asked me to give my daughter in marriage to their 
 master. I have them safe under lock and key, where even the 
 light of the sun cannot reach them. Had your request been the 
 same as theirs, you and your men should have suffered the like 
 fate." 
 
 On hearing these words the giant Asprian started forward, the 
 whole room trembling beneath his mighty tread. " My lord," he 
 cried, laying his hand upon his sword, "you might perhaps have 
 found that a more difficult task than you imagine. Before you 
 took us prisoners many of your guard would lie low, and who 
 can tell whether you yourself would have escaped scatheless? 
 We are not lambs to be slaughtered at the will of any man." 
 
 Constantine did not much like this address, and tried to 
 smooth down the ruffled feelings of the giant. After some 
 further conversation he invited the strangers to dine at his table. 
 While they were eating, a tame lion, of which the emperor 
 was very fond, began to steal the food from under the hands of
 
 38 LANGOBARDIAN LEGENDS. 
 
 the guests. Asprian's wrath was roused by the tempting morsel 
 being snatched away from him, and starting up he seized the 
 beast in his powerful hands, and flung him with such force against 
 the stone wall of the banqueting room, that he fell, never to 
 rise again. Constantine desired the guards to turn the giant out 
 of the hall, but the empress whispered, " Oh, take care what you 
 do. That man is not to be defied with impunity. King Rother 
 must be very powerful to have outlawed such men as these. 
 Take my advice, and set his messengers free. Let them take 
 our daughter home with them that she may be the wife of a 
 great king, and that she may induce her husband to be our 
 friend and ally." 
 
 Constantine listened in angry silence. At length he desired 
 his wife to be silent, reminding her that when once he had 
 made up his mind on any subject, he never changed. 
 
 Dietrich and his friends took up their abode in the lodging 
 the emperor had assigned to them, and there they had their 
 treasures borne by the sailors : a labour that lasted many days. 
 Many were the gifts they showered on their new acquaintances, 
 amongst others, on Lord Helme and a brave and somewhat poor 
 warrior named Arnold. The latter was so touched by their 
 kindness that he swore to help his benefactor whenever he could. 
 
 THE FAIR ODA. 
 
 The story of Dietrich's wealth and generosity became known 
 in the palace, and Princess Oda was seized with an intense 
 curiosity to see the hero of so many tales. She took counsel 
 with Herlind, her chief lady-in-waiting, as to how she might 
 accomplish her purpose with most propriety. Then, acting on 
 her advice, she begged her father to get up some races, and allow 
 her and her ladies to watch the sport. The emperor consented.
 
 KING ROT HER. 3g 
 
 and on the appointed day a large assemblage of spectators 
 appeared on the course. The crush of people who collected 
 round Dietrich was so great that none of the ladies of the court 
 were able to get so much as a glimpse of him. The next day 
 Oda called Herlind into her room, and promised her five gold 
 bracelets if she would contrive a secret meeting between her 
 and the stranger. Herlind promised to do her best. She went 
 to Dietrich's lodging, taking every precaution against being seen, 
 and gave him her mistress's message. He refused to go and 
 see the princess, lest the news of his having done so should 
 leak out and come to the emperor's ears. But before dismissing 
 Herlind, he gave her a golden and a silver shoe as a present 
 She hastened back to her lady and told her all. 
 
 " He is a noble man," said Oda, " and cares more for our 
 honour than for his own safety. I will keep the shoes in remem- 
 brance of him, and will give you instead as many gold pieces 
 as they will hold." 
 
 Herling was satisfied with the proposal and now tried to put 
 the shoes on her lady's feet, but could not, for they were both 
 made for the same foot. 
 
 " Go," cried the princess, " he is not true. I will have none 
 of his gifts, and will think of him no more. Take back the 
 shoes and throw them at his feet." 
 
 Wise Herlind understood how to interpret her mistress's 
 command. She hastened to Dietrich, and told him that the 
 princess was angry with him, but that her curiosity to see him 
 was so great that she would no doubt pardon him if he took 
 a proper pair of shoes with his own hand. Dietrich seized the 
 first moment when he could reach the princess's apartments 
 unobserved, and knocked at the door. 
 
 He stopped on the threshold in amazement at the wondrous 
 beauty of the maiden who advanced to meet him. She was also
 
 40 LANGOBARDIAN LEGENDS, 
 
 struck by his stately bearing and the resolute expression of his 
 handsome manly face. She had intended to show him her dis- 
 pleasure, but she could not ; she could only listen to the grave 
 and sensible explanation he gave of his conduct in not at once 
 obeying her commands. And when he asked permission to put 
 the shoes on her feet, she could not deny him. In course of con- 
 versation he mentioned Rother's offer for her hand, and then, little 
 by little, told her his secret, and the reason that had brought him 
 to Constantinople. He asked her for her love,- and she promised 
 to be his wife. He now showed her that her father's sentiments 
 being what they were, their only chance of happiness was to fly 
 together, and explained that before they could attempt to make 
 their escape his faithful servants, who were still confined in the 
 emperor's dungeons, must be set at liberty. He begged Oda to 
 try to get them set free. She promised to do her best, and pointed 
 out the gloomy tower in which they were imprisoned. 
 
 Next day the princess appeared before her father, dressed in 
 deep mourning, and told him that she had had a dreadful dream 
 that night. Her room had seemed full of flames from the nether- 
 most hell, and she had heard a voice call to her that if King 
 Rother's twelve messengers were not brought out of their dungeons, 
 and furnished with clothes, food and wine, she would fall under 
 eternal condemnation. 
 
 " That was the devil's voice, not an angel's,'' answered Con- 
 stantine, " and I will not, on such a command, give up the rights 
 I possess by the grace of God. But if it will make you happier, 
 Oda, I will allow the prisoners to have their liberty for a. short 
 time, on condition that some one will offer his life to me as bail 
 for them that they will not try to make their escape." 
 
 Oda left her father's presence much comforted, for she had 
 made up her mind what to do.
 
 KING ROT HER. 4I 
 
 THE LIBERATION OF THE MESSENGERS. 
 
 When the emperor, his guests and courtiers were seated at 
 dinner that day, Princess Oda entered the hall, followed by her 
 ladies. She went round the table, and told all and sundry of 
 her desire to liberate the twelve prisoners, and of the condition 
 her father had made. " Now who " she asked, " will let his head 
 be surety for the heads of these unhappy men ? " 
 
 A dead silence reigned in the hall. At last Dietrich rose in 
 his place, and in a loud clear voice offered himself as hostage 
 for the men. Upon which the emperor ordered the twelve counts 
 to be brought out of their prison, taken to the bath and provided 
 with clothes suitable to their rank and condition. This was 
 done, and while the poor fellows, scarcely able to believe their 
 senses, were seated at the meal provided for them, some one 
 outside began to play the harp. They listened intently, a deep 
 flush dyeing their sunken cheeks, and a flash of joyful surprise 
 brightening their sad eyes, for they recognised the air. " It is 
 he ! Our king is near. He has come to save us !" they whispered 
 in awe-struck accents. Weeks passed, and light and food did 
 their work in restoring the strength of the prisoners. 
 
 One day the door of their room opened, and Rother came in 
 dressed in his full armour. " You are free," he said joyously, 
 but he had scarcely had time to greet them when Berchther 
 rushed forward to embrace his sons, followed by Wolfrat, the 
 hero of Tegeling, strong Asprian, and Widolt, his inseparable 
 companion. 
 
 Rother told Leupold, and the rest, about their voyage, and 
 that he was only known to the Greeks by the name of Dietrich. 
 Then he told how he had won the love of fair Oda, and through 
 her help had gained their freedom at the risk of his own life.
 
 42 LANGOBARDIAN LEGENDS. 
 
 But the best was yet to come. Imelot, king of Desert-Babylon, 
 had invaded Constantine's realm with a mighty army, and had 
 demanded half the empire, and the hand of Princess Oda for 
 his son Basilistum. " The emperor not knowing what to do," 
 continued Rother, " I offered to help him if he would allow you 
 to join me and my friends. He consented, and so you are free 
 to become my comrades in battle. Your armour and weapons 
 lie without." 
 
 Widolt was so delighted at the thought of fighting that he 
 gave way to a stentorian burst of laughter, and nearly knocked 
 the emperor down by accident when he came in to tell the 
 prisoners that they were free. 
 
 WAR AND VICTORY. 
 
 Of all who followed Constantine into the field on that occasion, 
 Dietrich and his men were most worthy of notice ; not only 
 because of the magnificence of their accoutrements, but from 
 their noble appearance. Chief amongst them were brave Wolfrat 
 of Tegeling in Bavaria, old Duke Berchter of Meran, his son 
 Leupold of Milan, and other counts of the West, and lastly 
 huge Asprian and his giants. These consulted together on the 
 eve of the day fixed on for the great battle, and determined that 
 when the Greek and Babylonian forces were asleep, they would 
 quietly slip out of their own camp, and, if possible, into that of 
 the enemy. At midnight they set out on their dangerous enter- 
 prise. They passed the sentinels by means of the pass-word 
 they had taken care to find out, and softly made their way to 
 the king's tent. It was a warm, but dark summer night ; not 
 a star was visible; the king's body-guard were asleep at their 
 post. They never awoke again on earth. Wolfrat stabbed them 
 AS they slept, to guard against surprise. Widolt entered the
 
 GIANT WJDOLT CARRIES OFF KING IMELOT.
 
 KING ROTHER. 45 
 
 royal tent, and picking Imelot up in his arms as though he had 
 been an infant, desired him to be silent as he valued his life. 
 The giant's loud voice wakened some servants who slept near, 
 and they rushed into the tent to save their master, but were 
 speedily slain. The whole camp was now astir, but the efforts 
 of the soldiery were in vain. Confused by the darkness and their 
 sudden awakening, many were killed, while the greater number 
 fled, and sought refuge in their ships. 
 
 Rother and his handful of followers had thus won a complete 
 victory, and before daybreak had returned to their tents with 
 Imelot and some other princes of Desert-Babylon whom they 
 had taken prisoners. Thoroughly tired with their hard night's 
 work, they threw themselves on their couches, and sought well- 
 merited repose. 
 
 Not so the Emperor Constantine. Contrary to his usual habit, 
 he was up and about at a very early hour, and ordered the horns 
 to blow to rouse the camp. This done, he desired that his troops 
 should pass before him in companies. All were present except 
 Lord Dietrich and his companions. 
 
 " Ha ! ha ! " laughed the emperor scornfully, " so that fellow's 
 high talk was all swagger. I will go and see what keeps him," 
 and he trotted away to Dietrich's tent. 
 
 When he got there, he found that all was silent as the grave. 
 Motioning to his attendants to help him from his horse, he ad- 
 vanced to wake the sleepers. In the first tent, he saw the grim 
 giant Widolt stretched upon a panther skin, while in the back- 
 ground a man was tossing about on a bed of straw, bound hand 
 and foot. The emperor did not dare to wake the sleeper. He 
 stept over him carefully, and advanced close to the prisoner. 
 Imelot, in deadly fear lest he should be murdered on the spot, 
 shrieked out who he was, and offered the half of his kingdom in 
 exchange for his life. The noise wakened the giant. He sprang to
 
 46 LANGOBARDIAN LEGENDS. 
 
 his feet, and seizing his club, shouted to Dietrich to come, for some 
 treason was being hatched in their very tents. He would certainly 
 have killed both monarchs on the spot, had his companions not 
 hastened to his side and hindered him. When Constantine heard 
 the occurrences of the previous night, he was filled with surprise 
 and admiration. He gave a solemn feast in honour of the victory, 
 which in public he ascribed to himself, for were not Dietrich 
 and his companions in his pay at the time? In order that the 
 empress and her ladies might not be kept in ignorance of what 
 had happened, Constantine sent Dietrich and his men on in 
 advance to bear the news to the capital. 
 
 BRINGING HOME THE BRIDE. 
 
 The Western heroes rode back to Constantinople light-hearted 
 and happy, for Dietrich had told them that the hour of their 
 return home was near. The first step, in his opinion, was to pro- 
 claim that Imelot had conquered and dispersed the Greek army, 
 and was rapidly marching on the capital. 
 
 "All is lost," they cried, when the citizens came out to meet 
 them, " fly, save yourselves while you may. Imelot's wild horde 
 of savages will soon be upon you." Then galloping to the palace, 
 Dietrich entreated the empress to come on board his galley with 
 her daughter and her ladies, and to bring anything of value that 
 she particularly cared for. 
 
 They soon reached the strand. Oda crossed the plank leading 
 to the vessel, her hand resting trustfully on Dietrich's arm. Then 
 the plank was withdrawn and the ship pushed from land. The 
 empress wept and begged that she might be taken too, but 
 Dietrich explained to her the true state of the case, and telling 
 her who he was, assured her that Oda was going home with him 
 to rule over the West as his beloved queen.
 
 KING ROTHER. 
 
 "Ah," said the mother, much comforted, "be kind to her, 
 noble hero, and take my blessing on you both. Think of me 
 sometimes, as I shall think of you." 
 
 After a pleasant voyage the travellers arrived at Bari, where 
 the marriage of King Rother to the princess was celebrated 
 with all pomp. 
 
 When Constantine returned with his victorious army to Con- 
 stantinople, and learnt what had happened, he was very angry. 
 Had he not feared Rother and his gigantic allies, he would have 
 sent an army to Bari to fetch back the princess. The whole 
 city was in such confusion, that King Imelot had not much diffi- 
 culty in effecting his escape and returning to his own land. The 
 emperor did not fret much when he heard this news. He could 
 think of nothing but the loss of his daughter. He cared not for 
 the rich dishes in which he used. to delight, nor for the delicate 
 wines his steward brought to tempt his appetite. He grew thin 
 and pale, and his clothes hung loose on his shrunken frame. 
 
 THE MOUNTEBANK. 
 
 One day when he was alone in his room, a chamberlain came 
 to him and announced that a clever mountebank had come, who 
 would be sure to amuse his Majesty and turn his thoughts into 
 ;a pleasanter channel. The mountebank was admitted. The 
 emperor watched him perform all his curious tricks without a 
 smile. But when the man sang of a woman who bad been stolen 
 from her home, and whose friends had freed her by means of 
 cunning, not strength, he listened with his whole soul in his eyes. 
 When the song was finished, he signed to the man to approach 
 him, and asked him if he could bring Oda home to Constan- 
 tinople. 
 
 " Give me," answered the mountebank, " a goodly ship, well
 
 48 LANGOBARDIAN LEGENDS. 
 
 filled with merchandise, and I promise to bring the lady back to 
 you. You may send some of your soldiers with me if you like, 
 that they may cut off my head if I fail to keep my promise." 
 
 Before long the ship was laden and ready for sea. It was a 
 fast sailer, and there were many able seamen on board, to say 
 nothing of the soldiers the emperor had sent to see that the 
 player was true to his bargain. 
 
 All went well during the voyage, and the ship at last reached 
 the port of Bari. The mountebank landed and set to work to 
 find out all that he could about the royal family. He found 
 that King Rother had gone to Riffiand with his troops, leaving 
 Leupold of Milan regent in his place. He congratulated himself 
 on his good luck when he heard this, for he thought his plan 
 would be easier of accomplishment during the king's absence. 
 On his return to his ship he made ready to show off his conjur- 
 ing tricks on board the vessel. Crowds came, tempted by the 
 unusual sight. He then brought out his silks and precious stones 
 and offered them for sale. Amongst his wares was a pebble. 
 The people asked what good a wretched common pebble could 
 do him. 
 
 " This stone," he said, taking it gently in his hand, " is worth 
 a ton of gold, for if a queen should touch a lame or impotent 
 man with it, he would at once become strong and well again." 
 
 " Ah," sighed one of the lords, " if that were only true ! I 
 would give half my county were it really so, for I have three 
 children, all of whom have been lame from their birth." 
 
 "They would soon jump about and play like other children," 
 replied the mountebank, " if your good queen would only come 
 on board my ship and try the virtue of the pebble." 
 
 The count hastened to Queen Oda and told her his story, 
 and she, with her usual kindliness, said how willing she was to 
 cure the children if she could. She at once set out for the vessel,
 
 KING ROTHER. 
 
 49 
 
 but no sooner were she and her ladies on board than the landing 
 plank was slipped, the hawsers were unloosed, and a fresh wind 
 catching the sails, the ship was soon out of sight of land. 
 
 ROTHER TO THE RESCUE. 
 
 The citizens of Bari clustered about the harbour not knowing 
 what to do, and Leupold vainly sought a ship that could be got 
 ready immediately to pursue and overtake the robber's vessel. 
 At the same moment King Rother's horns were heard proclaim- 
 ing his return. As soon as the king was told what had happened, 
 his decision was formed. 
 
 " We must take an army to Constantinople," he cried. " My 
 dear wife has been stolen from me by force and cunning, and by 
 force and cunning I will win her back." 
 
 Old Duke Berchther shook his grey head, but said that he and 
 his men would follow the king. Leupold, Wolfrat and the othei 
 princes of the realm promised to do the same. Messengers were 
 sent to bear the tidings to all parts of the kingdom, and sooa 
 a great army was assembled. Rother picked out the bravest 
 warriors to accompany him, amongst whom were Asprian and 
 his giants ; the rest he sent home. Meantime the ships that 
 were to bear the little army had been got ready, and after a 
 favourable voyage reached the neighbourhood of Constantinople. 
 Rother gave orders that the vessels should be run ashore in a 
 small bay, surrounded on all sides by a thick wood which 
 stretched in the direction of the city, and which would serve 
 to conceal both ships and men. 
 
 "We are safe here," said Rother to his nobles. "The popu- 
 lace have an unspeakable terror of this wood, which they 
 believe to be peopled by monsters of all sorts. Let the men 
 encamp here, and I will go to the city in a pilgrim's dress and 
 
 see what is going on." 
 
 D
 
 50 LANGOBARDIAN LEGENDS. 
 
 There was a general outcry at the idea of the king adventur- 
 ing himself alone in the enemy's stronghold, and many of the 
 princes offered to go with him. He, therefore, consented to 
 take the Duke of Meran and his son Leupold. Before starting 
 Wolfrat gave him a tiny horn, telling him the sound it made 
 was so shrill that it could be heard for miles around. 
 
 " As soon as we hear it," said Asprian, " we shall come to 
 your help with clubs and swords." 
 
 "Yes," laughed Widolt, "and then there will be many a 
 broken head, I can promise you." 
 
 The three pilgrims set out on their way. After going some 
 distance they saw a horseman coming towards them in shining 
 armour. They asked him if there were good news in Constan- 
 tinople. 
 
 " Not at all," he answered. " Look, King Rother gave me this 
 coat of mail, and my good sword, and a thousand gold pieces 
 to boot, for I had lost both land and wealth at the hands of 
 miscreants ; and now I find that the Greeks have stolen away 
 his fair wife, and are about to marry her to that cruel demon 
 Basilistum, son of Imelot, King of Desert-Babylon. For, when 
 Imelot escaped from here, he collected a great army, and march- 
 ing into the Emperor Constantine's land, took him prisoner, and 
 now demands the half of his empire and the Lady Oda for that 
 unlicked cub, his son, who, according to the present arrange- 
 ment, is to remain here after his marriage, that Constantine may 
 not be deprived of his daughter's society. All the Christians in 
 the place tremble to think of the persecutions that will follow. 
 Oh that King Rother would only come ! I would join him with 
 ail my men as sure as my name is Arnold." 
 
 " Truly," said Rother as they parted, " a kind action often 
 brings unlooked-for reward." 
 
 The city was full of life and feasting. Imelot, Constantine,
 
 KING ROTHER. 
 
 and their followers were hobnobbing together in the banqueting 
 room in the greatest peace and concord, for Constantine was 
 overjoyed at having settled the vexed question of his daughter's 
 marriage without losing her altogether. The hunchbacked bride- 
 groom sat between his father and his would-be father-in-law and 
 close to sad Oda and her equally sorrowful mother. The doors 
 were wide open, that the populace might come in and watch the 
 proceedings. So the three pilgrims were able to enter unnoticed, 
 with their hats pulled down low over their brows. They heard 
 Constantine, Imelot, and Basilistum boast of how they would 
 scornfully entreat and hang King Rother and all his giants if 
 they ventured to come within their reach. During the laughter 
 and confusion caused by these speeches, Rother managed to slip 
 a ring bearing his name into his wife's hand, and she, with a 
 look of intense relief, showed it to her mother. 
 
 " Rother is here," cried the hunchbacked bridegroom suddenly. 
 " He has just given my wife a ring with his name engraved on 
 it. Seek him out and seize him." 
 
 Swords were drawn, tables overturned, and noisy shouts heard 
 on every side. Rother and his companions came forward, and 
 the former said clearly and distinctly 
 
 "Yes, I am here. I have come to claim my wife, and if the 
 king of Desert-Babylon or his hunchbacked son deny my right, 
 I am ready to prove it on their bodies with my good sword." 
 
 Imelot laughed till the hall re-echoed. " Fight with you? 
 he cried, " a poor little kinglet like you ! No, no, you mu^t be 
 hung." 
 
 " He must be hung ! " repeated the courtiers. 
 
 " To the gallows with him, and his comrades too," continued 
 the Babylonish king, " seize them and bind them till the blood 
 starts from their fingers." 
 
 The heroes had only their pilgrim's staves, and these were
 
 52 LANGOBARDIAN LEGENDS. 
 
 poor weapons wherewith to defend themselves against the swords 
 and iances that were pointed at them. They were taken and 
 bound. No hand was raised to help them, although many a 
 hardy fellow in the crowd had cause to remember Dietrich's 
 kindness. 
 
 " A king," said Rother proudly, " who has often looked death 
 in the face on the battle-field, knows how to die when his time 
 comes. Let the executioner do his work in the haunted wood, 
 where Constantine has already had so many innocent men put 
 to a shameful death." 
 
 " A good idea," quoth the emperor grimly. " There are gal- 
 lows there that will just do to hang the stealer of women and 
 his comrades on." 
 
 " That is right," laughed Imelot, " and then the monsters 
 who inhabit the wood will come at night and play many a 
 merry prank with their bones. If their friends the giants should 
 come over the sea in search of Rother and his crew, we will 
 hang them too, that they may find themselves in good company. 
 The whole army shall see how great Imelot revenges himself 
 upon his foes." 
 
 The preparations for the execution were finished in a few hours, 
 and the prisoners were borne to the haunted wood amidst an 
 immense crowd and the music of drums and trumpets. The 
 populace were curious to see a king hanged. 
 
 "And so it is Dietrich, kind Dietrich," sighed one ; while 
 another laughed and answered, " What does that matter to us ? 
 It is all the same whether a man is a king or a beggar when 
 he comes to be hung." " Ah yes," said a third, " the rope is an 
 uncomfortable necktie for any man, but that it should be tried 
 on a crowned head is a thing I never expected to see." 
 
 The procession arrived at its destination. The prisoners were 
 led to the foot of the gallows.
 
 KING ROTHER. 53 
 
 " Be of good cheer, Sir King," said the executioner ; " you 
 once gave me a handful of gold pieces, and to show you my 
 gratitude I have provided a silken rope for you, that will do 
 the business very quickly. The other two gentlemen must put 
 up with common hemp, I am sorry to say. By St. Michael, I 
 never did a day's work before, that I liked so ill." 
 
 " Pray loose my hands for a moment, good fellow," asked 
 Rother, " that I may say a prayer." 
 
 " A pious wish," replied the man. " I will also pray to my 
 patron saint, and beg him to take you straight to heaven from 
 the gallows-tree." 
 
 He loosed the king's hands as he spoke, and then began to 
 pray. Meanwhile Rother drew out his horn from under the pil- 
 grim's mantle, where it was concealed. Three times its wild call 
 sounded over mountain and valley, like a cry for help to the 
 faithful friends who were waiting fully armed in the depths of 
 the wood. But King Imelot, growing impatient, commanded 
 that the executioner should himself be hung if he delayed any 
 further to do his duty. The man was frightened and began to 
 bind Rother's hands again ; but at that moment a loud noise 
 was heard in the background. 
 
 It was Arnold, who, with his men, had joined Rother's other 
 friends, and who now came with them to the rescue of his former 
 benefactor. There was a fearful battle. Imelot and many more 
 fell fighting desperately, while Basilistum was slain during the 
 flight. The whole army of Desert-Babylon was scattered or 
 destroyed. 
 
 After the victory King Rother asked for the emperor, but 
 found that Constantine had thought "prudence the better part 
 of valour," and had long before fled to the palace, where he 
 had taken refuge in the women's apartments. His courage had 
 all ebbed away, and he begged his wife and daughter to entreat
 
 54 LANGOBARDIAN LEGENDS. 
 
 Rother to save him out of the hand of the giants, those veri- 
 table children of the evil one. The ladies were soon ready to 
 go out and meet the ruler of the West. They placed the timid 
 emperor in their midst, and accompanied by a numerous train, 
 set out for the wood. The first people they met were the giants. 
 Asprian's falcon-eyes at once spied out the emperor, carefully as 
 he tried to hide himself. Stretching his long arm over the empress, 
 he seized him by the scruff of the neck and flung him on the 
 ground. Widolt raised his club to put an end to him as he 
 lay there senseless, but his master stopped him, saying 
 
 " Not so, Widolt ; away with the miserable wretch to the gal- 
 lows." 
 
 The giant caught the emperor up as easily as if he had been 
 a baby, and went dancing along the road to the gallows with 
 him in his arms. But they soon came up with Rother and his 
 heroes, and the king pardoned Constantine. He could not have 
 done otherwise : his wife was once more in his arms, and where 
 love rules, wrath and vengeance have no place. When they all 
 met in the banqueting room that evening, the emperor found 
 himself unusually hungry after the many and varied emotions 
 he had gone through, and it is said that he devoured a whole 
 leg of mutton, and drank an immense quantity of wine. 
 
 King Rother left the whole of the Eastern empire, which he 
 had just conqueied, in the hands of his father-in-law, and then 
 set sail for Bari accompanied by Queen Oda. Arrived there, 
 they went on to Rome, where a second marriage was solem- 
 nized with great pomp. Rother and his wife lived long and 
 happily ^ together, and had many children. We shall hear plea- 
 sant things of their daughter Herka (or Herche, Helche), and 
 their grand-daughter Herat, as time goes on.
 
 ORTN1T. 
 
 55 
 
 A 
 
 III. 
 ORTNIT, 
 
 GREAT king once lived in 
 Lombardy ; he was richer 
 and more powerful than any 
 other monarch far or near. His 
 name was Ortnit, and his dominions extended over the whole 
 of Italy from the Alps to the sea, and even included Sicily. 
 The neighbouring kings were all his vassals, for, possessing the 
 strength of twelve ordinary men, he was, of course, victorious 
 in every battle. And yet he was not contented. An inward 
 unrest prevented him from enjoying his wealth and greatness. 
 He often sat dreamily at table, tasting nothing, and deaf to all
 
 56 LANGOBARDIAN LEGENDS. 
 
 that was being said around him ; deaf even to the minstrels, 
 when they sang songs in his praise. He frequently wandered 
 alone up in the mountains, seeking adventures, slaying robbers, 
 and destroying the wild beasts that preyed upon the farmers' 
 flocks and herds. But this did not satisfy him ; he sighed for 
 something more. 
 
 One day when he was standing, as he often did, on the sea- 
 shore, watching the waves that rose and fell, tinted by the light 
 of the setting sun, a mist came up out of the water. A few mi- 
 nutes more, and it parted slowly like a veil, showing a wondrous 
 sight. It was that of a castle with towers and barbican, and 
 on the battlements stood a woman such as he had never seen 
 before in all his travels. He could not take his eyes off her. 
 The effect of her beauty on him was like enchantment. Then 
 the mist gradually closed again, and lady and castle vanished 
 as completely as if they had never been. 
 
 While Ortnit was still staring at the place where he had seen 
 the lady, he heard a step behind him. " Ah, it is she ! " he 
 thought, and turning quickly, clasped and kissed bearded Ylyas 
 (Eligas, or Elias), prince of the wild Reussen, who was his uncle. 
 The new comer returned the embrace heartily, and then said : 
 
 " You are a good lad to receive your mother's brother with 
 as much transport as a lover his sweetheart, but you have been 
 gazing at a bit of sorcery down there, and that accounts for 
 a great deal. Try to forget what you have seen, or your royal 
 head may soon be displayed from the towers of Muntabure, 
 where the lovely witch lives with that old heathen, her father." 
 
 " She is a real person then," cried Ortnit quickly. " She must 
 be mine. I would stake my life to win her." 
 
 " What is that you say ? " answered Ylyas. " A king's head 
 for a woman's curl ! That would make a new song for the min- 
 strels to sing in Lombardy."
 
 ORTNIT, 5? 
 
 " How am I to find her ? " asked the king. " Tell me the 
 story, which I suppose some wandering fiddler has sung." 
 
 "Why, nephew," replied the elder man, "I have seen with my 
 own eyes and have heard with my own ears what I am now 
 going to tell you. It is no minstrel's tale I am going to amuse 
 you with. Machorell is the name of the maiden's father, and 
 he is ruler of Syria, Jerusalem, and other eastern lands. When 
 I was returning from my pilgrimage to the holy sepulchre, I 
 arrived one evening at the gates of Castle Muntabure, weary 
 and footsore, and the Saracen porter had compassion on me, took 
 me in, and showed me no little kindness. Then it was that I 
 saw the wicked heathen king, whose skin is as black as that of 
 a Moor, and also the beautiful princess Sidrat. I heard it said 
 that he intended to marry his own daughter, when her sick 
 mother was dead, and that was why he cut off the heads of all 
 the wooers who came to ask for the princess's hand in marriage. 
 Seventy-two skulls already grin from the towers of Castle Munta- 
 bure. Say, bold youth, do you intend to offer your head to the 
 Moorish king as the seventy-third ? " 
 
 " I have been through many a strange adventure before now," 
 returned Ortnit, " and I shall try to get the better of the infidel." 
 
 On the following day the notables of the realm were sum- 
 moned to a council. The king told them that he intended to 
 make a campaign in Syria, and desired their help in calling 
 together his army. After many attempts to dissuade Ortnit 
 from such a fantastic enterprise, all was at last settled as he 
 wished, even to the appointment of the governors and deputy- 
 governors in whose hands the country was to be left during 
 his absence. The only person besides the king who carried his 
 point was Ylyas, who insisted on his right to go to Syria or 
 anywhere else he chose, and expressed his firm determination 
 not to lose sight of his nephew.
 
 58 LANGOBARDIAN LEGENDS. 
 
 As the council were separating, Zacharis appeared. He was 
 Lord of Apulia and Sicily, a heathen, but a faithful comrade of 
 the king. When he heard what they had settled, he at once 
 announced his readiness to provide a ship to take the armament 
 across the sea, for which ofifer the king thanked him warmly. On 
 the advice of Ylyas, it was agreed to put off the expedition until 
 spring, when the weather would be more favourable for a sea 
 voyage. 
 
 So the king had to smother his impatience as best he might. 
 He was very lonely, for he knew that no one quite sympathized 
 with him. His mother, indeed, did her best to persuade him to 
 give up the enterprise, by setting its dangers plainly before him, 
 and telling him how ridiculous it was to be so much in love with 
 a woman whom he had only seen in a vision, and about whose 
 character and disposition he knew nothing. He fretted against 
 the idleness and uniformity of the life he was leading, and deter- 
 mined to ride up into the mountains for something to do. When 
 he went to take leave of his mother, she begged him not to go, 
 for fear of some accident happening to him ; but, finding that 
 he was not to be dissuaded, she took a ring from her ringer, saying, 
 " If you are determined to go, take this ring. The gold is thin, 
 and the stone of little apparent value, but it possesses a magic 
 power that could not be bought with a kingdom. Go where you 
 like in the wild mountains, but first of all ride down the road to 
 the left, that leads over the heights to the lake, then sideways 
 under a wall of rock to the valley. Look about till you find a 
 spring gushing out of a rock, and, close to it, a great lime-tref; ; 
 there you will have a more wonderful experience than any you 
 could imagine." 
 
 Her voice trembled with nervous excitement, and her tearful 
 eyes seemed to entreat him to ask her no questions.
 
 ORTNIT. 
 
 59 
 
 DWARF ALBERICH (/ELF-RIC). 
 
 Ortnit rode away. He forbade any of his serving-men to 
 accompany him, saying that he wished to be alone. The cool 
 fresh air blowing about his temples cheered him, and chased away 
 the fumes that troubled him. The sun began to sink as he 
 entered the wood, where he had to dismount and lead his horse, 
 because of the low-growing branches of the trees. The night 
 was so dark that he lost his way, and did not succeed in getting 
 out of the wood again till daybreak. When he gained the open, 
 he rested a short time to let his horse graze in the meadow, and 
 to eat his own breakfast. After that he set out again for the 
 mountains, and at length reached the wall of rock his mothet 
 had mentioned. He rode along the foot of it, as she had told 
 him, till he heard the gurgling of the spring, and, on turning a 
 corner, saw the lime before him. It was an immense tree, and 
 early as it was in the year, it was already covered with leaves and 
 blossom. Ortnit found on looking around, that it was in a wide 
 meadow, on which grass, clover, and many-coloured flowers grew 
 in rich abundance, while the number of birds that nested in the 
 lime-tree was quite unheard of. A curious feeling came over the 
 king, it seemed as if he must have heard those birds' song of 
 welcome in his childhood, and all at once he remembered a ditty 
 his mother used to sing. He began to hum it softly. 
 
 It was a song about all the little birds, and the music each 
 made after its kind, sweet as a summer day, and all in honour 
 of Alberich, king of the wood. 
 
 "Alberich king of the wood," Ortnit was sure that he had 
 once heard more about him than that, but what it was he could 
 not tell. Had he not played with a child of that name once ? 
 As he was puzzling over these confused memories of the past, 
 he happened to glance at his mother's ring ; the stone in it was
 
 60 LANGOBARDIAN LEGENDS. 
 
 shining like a fire, and lighting up the face of a lovely child, who 
 lay asleep in the grass close by. 
 
 " Poor boy," said the royal hero, compassionately, " I wonder 
 who brought you to this lonely place ! How anxious your mother 
 must be about you ! I cannot leave you here to die of hunger 
 or fall a defenceless prey to the wild beasts." 
 
 He had already fastened his horse to a branch, and stooping 
 down, he lifted the boy in his arms to carry him away ; but to his 
 intense surprise he received such a blow on the chest that he not 
 only let the child fall, but himself tumbled on his back. He had 
 scarcely recovered his footing, when he found the child holding him 
 so tight that he had to exert all his strength not to be overthrown 
 It was a strange sight to see the tall king and the wonderful child, 
 wrestling furiously together. Flowers and grass were trodden 
 under foot, shrubs and low bushes broken and torn, when Ortnit 
 at last flung his opponent on the ground, and drew his sword to 
 slay him. But, angry as he was, he could not do it when the little 
 thing gazed at him so entreatingly, and begged in such a sweet 
 soft voice that he would not murder him when he was defenceless, 
 but would accept, in exchange for the life he granted him, a 
 valuable suit of armour, consisting of helmet, shield, and coat of 
 mail of wrought gold and silver, and last not least, the sword 
 called Rosen, whose blade had been rendered strong and durable 
 in dragon's blood. When Ortnit demanded a hostage for his 
 opponent's good faith, the little creature told him that hostages 
 were impossible to find in that wild mountain country, but Ortnit 
 might trust to his word, for he also was a king, and ruled over a far 
 wider domain than Lombardy, though truly his realm lay beneath 
 the earth instead of upon it, and his subjects were employed day 
 and night in working in metals. Finding that no hostage was 
 necessary, or indeed procurable, the hero allowed his prisoner to 
 get up. But before the latter went to get the armour he had
 
 ORTNIT. 6 1 
 
 promised, he said that he would like to have the ring Ortnit was 
 wearing, and that he scrupled the less to ask for it, as it did 
 not appear to be of great value. 
 
 " I cannot give it to you," replied Ortnit, " for it was a present 
 from my dear mother, who would never forgive me if I parted 
 with it" 
 
 "And you call yourself a hero," sneered the little creature, 
 "you who fear your mother's blows ! Tell me, what do you do 
 when you are wounded in battle ? Do you cry like a baby when 
 you see the blood flow ? " 
 
 "If you were to hew me in pieces," replied the Lombard, 
 " painful as that would be, it would hurt me less than a tear or 
 a sigh from my mother." 
 
 " Well, good squire of dames," continued the other, " it can at 
 any rate do the ring no harm for me to look at it and touch 
 it. I am in your power, am I not ? Your sword is in your hand, 
 and I am without a weapon." 
 
 After a little hesitation the king consented to let the boy draw 
 the ring from his finger; but scarcely was this done, when he 
 vanished from before his eyes, suddenly and without warning. 
 Ortnit felt bewildered. He heard the boy's voice, now at a 
 distance and now near, making sarcastic remarks on the beating 
 his mother would give him when he went home, and finally 
 announcing that he would pelt him with a few pebbles to show 
 him how well he could do it. Ortnit defended himself for some 
 time against the terrible storm of sharp stones that rained upon 
 him, but at last, seeing that neither his great strength nor his 
 sword were of any avail, he turned to his horse and prepared 
 to ride away. 
 
 On perceiving this the hobgoblin exclaimed : " Wait a bit, 
 friend Goodman. I am sorry to think of the stripes your mother 
 will give you. Listen to me. I have many important things
 
 62 LANGOBARDIAN LEGENDS. 
 
 to talk to you about If you will give me your royal word 
 of honour that you will not revenge yourself for the trick I played 
 you, I will give you back your ring." 
 
 " Very well," answered Ortnit, " I promise on my honour." 
 
 " And if I go on to talk ill of your mother ? " 
 
 " No," cried the king, " I will never forgive that. You may 
 say what you like about me, but my mother is the purest and 
 most perfect of women." 
 
 " I quite agree with you," said the little creature ; " you may 
 listen to me without fearing that I shall slander her, for I am 
 Alberich (^Elf-ric) king of the Dwarfs, and you and I are more 
 nearly related than you think. I will tell you the truth ; but first 
 take back your ring. I trust to your word of honour*" 
 
 The moment Ortnit felt the ring in his hand, he slipped it 
 back on his finger, and immediately saw the boy standing before 
 him. 
 
 " You must know, great king," pursued Alberich, " that you 
 have to thank me for your land and people, castles, towns and 
 victories, and also for your marvellous strength. Your pre- 
 decessor, whom you call father, married, when he was an elderly 
 man, the youthful sister of the prince of the wild Reussen. The 
 marriage was childless. Husband and wife in vain prayed heaven 
 for an heir. Your mother was the best and most virtuous woman 
 in Lombardy, but she wore herself away with fretting about what 
 would become of the country and herself when her husband died 
 without an heir. She foresaw that the nation would be split into 
 factions, that civil war would desolate the land, and that she 
 herself might be chased from Lombardy, a homeless exile. I often 
 heard her plaints when I entered her room unseen. The older the 
 king grew, the more her anxiety increased ; then well, you must 
 know it sooner or later I became her second husband." 
 
 " Monster, you lie ! " shouted Ortnit, drawing a dagger from
 
 ORTN1T. 63 
 
 his side, but he could not use it, for the smiling boy looked up at 
 him so fearlessly. 
 
 "Your anger is bootless," he said. "You had better let me 
 finish my story. Young as I look, I am five hundred years old ; 
 small as I am, and big and strong as you are, I am yet your father. 
 I proposed to the king that he should secretly get a divorce from 
 his wife and let her marry me. He consented, but she would not. 
 She refused. She spent days and months in weeping, and only 
 gave way at last when her husband insisted ! She and I were 
 married secretly by a priest. No one guessed what had happened, 
 and when you were born you were supposed to be the old 
 king's son. I did not win my wife's heart, however, until her 
 first husband was dead. After that I used sometimes to bring 
 her here ; you and I played together among the flowers like two 
 children, and I sang with the birds that wild song of theirs about 
 the king of the wood, which your mother often sung to you again 
 at Castle Garden. When you grew to be a man and a hero, I was 
 often at your side unseen, while the battle raged all round you, and 
 on those occasions I have often turned aside the point of some 
 murderous weapon that threatened your life. When you cross the 
 wild ocean, and strive to win the Moorish maiden for your wife, I 
 will be there to help you. So long as you wear that ring on your 
 finger, you have only to wish for me and you will see me. Now 
 wait a few minutes ; I am going to fetch the armour that no 
 weapon can pierce, and the sword Rosen, which can cut through 
 steel and iron, and even dragon's scales." 
 
 Ortnit felt as though in a dream. While he was still thinking 
 over all that he had just heard, the sound of heavy steps, and the 
 clanking of armour startled him out of his reverie. Turning 
 round he saw Alberich, who with the help of a sturdy dwarf was 
 bringing his promised gift. On the top of the silver helmet with 
 gold enwrought, was a priceless diamond. The whole suit of mail
 
 64 LANGOBARDTAN LEGENDS. 
 
 was of marvellously beautiful workmanship, and sparkled with 
 gems wherever gems should be. The sword was in a golden 
 sheath, its handle was a shining carbuncle, and on the sharp steel 
 blade were golden figures and the letters forming the king's name. 
 
 Ortnit was amazed at the beauty of all he saw. He put on the 
 armour, and it fitted him exactly. Then he picked his tiny father 
 up in his strong arms and kissed him on his rosy mouth, and 
 Alberich returned his embrace with much affection. As the king 
 rode away, the last words he heard were, " Do not forget the 
 importance of that ring. Never give it away. If you turn it on 
 your finger, I will at once be with you." 
 
 When Ortnit got home, he was received with joy by all his 
 retainers ; and his mother, who was watching for his arrival, signed 
 to him to come to her. He instantly ran up the steps, and 
 whispered as he kissed her, " I have come from father Alberich." 
 
 " You know ? " she asked, hiding her face on his shoulder. 
 
 " I know," he answered, " that I love and honour my dear 
 mother." 
 
 May came at last. The army assembled and marched south 
 through Tuscany, Rome and Naples, whence they embarked for 
 Sicily, Messina being the place fixed on for the general meeting of 
 all the forces. Arrived there, they found faithful Zacharis ready 
 with his ship, in which he had stowed away, not only enough 
 provisions for the voyage, but also merchandise, in case it should 
 be wanted. Soon every man was on board, a favourable wind 
 swelled the sails, and experienced seamen steered the ship through 
 the wild sea. 
 
 CITY OF SUDERS (TYRE). 
 
 After they had journeyed a long time, the welcome cry of 
 " land " was heard from the mast-head, and soon afterwards those
 
 ORTNIT. 65 
 
 on deck had a distinct view of the shore and the wharfs of Tyre. 
 But at this moment the skipper came up to the king and said : 
 
 " Sire, we are all lost. There is no wind to carry us past this 
 place. They have sighted us already in the town, and will soon 
 send out their pirate ships to chase us." 
 
 " Come, nephew," said Ylyas, "throw the cowardly dog overboard 
 to drink brotherhood with the fishes. Have we not swords enough 
 to defend ourselves from the Moors ? " 
 
 " Sir," replied the skipper, " the heathen will throw Greek fire 
 on board. Neither sword nor shield can do aught against that. 
 The ship will be burnt, and all the men either burnt therewith 
 or drowned." 
 
 No one knew what to advise, so all stood silent about the king. 
 Suddenly a voice was heard from the mast-head : 
 
 " All arms below ! Bring up the merchandise, and let the sails 
 be reefed, lest the enemy guess that we thought of flight." 
 
 "Hey-day! It is Alberich," said Ortnit ; "how could I have 
 forgotten him ? " 
 
 He looked up and saw the king of the dwarfs slipping rapidly 
 down the mast to the deck. In another moment he was at his 
 side. 
 
 " You forgot both the ring and me," said Alberich, " but a father 
 does not so soon forget his son. Now hasten and see that my 
 commands are carried out." 
 
 Much ashamed of himself, Ortnit gave the necessary orders. 
 All weapons of offence were stowed away below, and the costly 
 wares Zacharis had provided were spread temptingly on deck. 
 Meanwhile the dwarf climbed the mast again, and, as soon as he 
 was aloft, shouted to the Moors : 
 
 " See here we are peaceful merchants bringing wares from 
 Italy. Give us free convoy into the harbour of Tyre." 
 
 Ylyas stared up open-mouthed at the top of the mast The flag
 
 66 LANCOBARDIAN LEGENDS. 
 
 was flying there as usual, and no one was to be seen. What voice 
 was that he had heard ? 
 
 " Is the devil on board ? " he asked, crossing himself, " or is it a 
 good spirit ? Whom did you speak to, nephew? Who called from 
 the top-mast even now ? " 
 
 " A good spirit," replied Ortnit, " a little dwarf who will, help 
 us out of our difficulty. You shall see him with your own eyes." 
 
 With these words he slipped his magic ring on his uncle's ringer, 
 and the latter was much astonished to see the small childish figure 
 descending the mast, still more when Ortnit gave him a hasty 
 sketch of all that had taken place. 
 
 The Tyrian galleys had by this time come up with the ship. 
 Their commander, who introduced himself as constable of the city, 
 inquired whether the object of the strangers in coming to those 
 seas was really to trade with them. Satisfied that they were what 
 they appeared to be, because of the number and splendour of their 
 wares, he at last gave them leave to enter the harbour, and even to 
 land if they desired to do so. In the course of that afternoon 
 the townsfolk bought many rich Italian stuffs at a very low price. 
 
 In the evening the two princes held counsel together as to what 
 was now to be done. Ylyas advised that a sudden onslaught 
 should be made on the castle, and that everybody there, young 
 or old, should be put to the sword. Before Ortnit could answer, 
 Alberich broke into the conversation by saying that such conduct 
 would not be fair, that no one who desired fame and glory would 
 take his enemy unawares ; but for fear any herald sent to the 
 infidels should be murdered by them, he undertook to bear the 
 message of defiance himself. 
 
 Alberich hastened to Muntabure by unfrequented roads. Arrived 
 there, he saw King Machorell standing on the ramparts enjoying 
 the cool evening air. 
 
 " Listen to me, Moorish king," cried the dwarf from the castle
 
 ORTNIT. 67 
 
 moat, " and mark what I tell you. My master, King Ortnit, desires 
 that you will give him your daughter to be his wife, and queen of 
 Lombardy. If you refuse your consent, he bids me declare war 
 on you at once, and warn you that he will attack Tyre before 
 daybreak to-morrow. After conquering it he will come on to 
 Muntabure, punish you for your evil deeds, and marry your 
 daughter." 
 
 "So, Goblin," cried Machorell angrily, "you want to arrange a 
 marriage, do you ? You will find both your own head and your 
 master's adorning the battlements of my castle before long, if 
 you persist in your foolish scheme. But where are you ? I cannot 
 see you." 
 
 " Down below you in the moat," was the answer. 
 
 The king flung a heavy stone down upon the place where he 
 supposed Alberich to be, but missed his mark. He called out his 
 guards and made them search the whole neighbourhood, but they 
 returned at nightfall baffled and disappointed. 
 
 That evening Ortnit made an onslaught on the city, and found 
 it totally unprepared for any attack. However, the Tyrians soon 
 got under arms and made a gallant defence ; all in vain. Ortnit 
 was victorious after a hard struggle in which many of his faithful 
 followers were slain. 
 
 When he returned from pursuing the Tyrians, Ortnit went 
 to the place where his uncle had fought, and found him lying 
 on the ground surrounded by his people. Was he dead or 
 only wounded ? The king bent over him anxiously, and loosed 
 his helmet to see if he were yet alive. His heart had not 
 quite ceased to beat. As Ortnit was raising him in his arms, 
 he happened to touch him with Alberich's ring, and in a 
 moment Ylyas was on his feet, whole and sound, as though he 
 had never been wounded. It was well for Ortnit that it was 
 so, for in another instant he and his men were attacked by
 
 63 LANGOBARDIAN LEGENDS. 
 
 the train-bands of the city, who had rallied once more. At 
 length they also were beaten back with immense loss, and 
 Tyre was really in his hands. Those of the citizens that were 
 left swore fealty to the king of Lombardy, who then gave 
 orders to attend to the wants of the wounded, both friends 
 and foes. He allowed his followers a few days' rest before 
 leading them against Muntabure. 
 
 CASTLE MUNTABURE. 
 
 After much consideration it was agreed between Ylyas and 
 the king that Alberich was the best person to be standard- 
 bearer during the assault, and the dwarf at once consented. 
 The warriors were filled with amazement when they saw a 
 war-horse preceding them with the royal banner apparently 
 floating by it's side. "The invisible standard-bearer must be an 
 angel," they said in awe-struck tones. Nothing of importance 
 happened during the march. All went well, for Alberich led 
 the van. 
 
 At last Castle Muntabure loomed in sight : a grim fortress 
 perched on the top of a beetling crag. 
 
 Machorell had heard of their approach, and was in readiness 
 to receive them. He had strengthened the garrison very con- 
 siderably, and was confident of victory. At first it seemed as 
 if his confidence were well-founded ; but at the very moment 
 when the Saracens appeared to have success within their grasp, 
 the tide of fortune turned. Alberich climbed the walls unseen, 
 and by a great exertion of his marvellous strength, hurled 
 one heavy catapult after another down from the walls into 
 the moat below ; while the men who had been working these 
 engines of destruction were struck motionless with terror, when 
 they saw the unwieldy machines disappear as though shoved
 
 ORTNIT. 69 
 
 from their places by invisible hands. Ortnit seized the right 
 moment to push the advantage the dwarf had gained for him, 
 and renewed the assault more vigorously than before. 
 
 SlDRAT THE BEAUTIFUL. 
 
 Alberich now left the walls, and opening a side-door made 
 his way to a tower-like building that rose above the battlements. 
 This was the temple where the Moors kept their idols, Mahomet 
 and Apollo ; two enormous figures carved in stone. The queen 
 and her daughter, beautiful Sidrat, knelt before the idols praying 
 for protection from the invaders. Suddenly Sidrat felt her 
 hand grasped gently by an invisible hand. At first she was 
 frightened, and then comforted, for she took it as a sign that 
 her prayers were heard. But the unseen friend was Alberich, 
 and not a heathen god. He whispered, " Your gods are dust ; 
 I am a messenger from another world, and have come to save 
 you and to teach you to worship the true God." 
 
 The girl started to her feet in terror, and hastened to her 
 mother, who was kneeling at a little distance. Meanwhile the 
 dwarf flung the idols down and broke them in pieces, and the 
 women were more alarmed than ever, for they felt convinced 
 that an evil spirit was at work within the temple. 
 
 Alberich went back to the princess, and drew her to the 
 barbican, whispering, " Sec, there is the hero who desires to 
 make you his wife, and queen of his realm." 
 
 Involuntarily she looked down, and saw Ortnit fighting 
 valorously, driving all before him, and looking god-like in his 
 grace and noble bearing. She could not turn away her eyes. 
 He was even now advancing to attack her father. They ex- 
 changed one or two blows, the last of which split Machorell's 
 shield. Ortnit raised his sword to strike again, but Sidrat
 
 70 LANGOBARDIAN LEGENDS. 
 
 uttered a loud cry of agony, and he refrained, for at the same 
 moment he saw her standing on the barbican, and knew that 
 she was the maiden he had loved ever since he had seen hei 
 image in the magic castle on the sea. 
 
 "You see the royal hero?" asked the dwarf; but receiving 
 no answer, he went on : " Go down to the moat to-morrow 
 morning at day-break. Your father will allow you to do so, if 
 you tell him you are going to call upon your gods to return 
 to the castle. But when you reach the moat, you will find the 
 king waiting to speak with you." 
 
 Knowing that his advice would be followed, he left the 
 princess. 
 
 The battle had ceased to rage as furiously as before, and all 
 were weary after their exertions. Ortnit's men retired to the 
 river-side, where they were to encamp for the night, and the 
 Moors shut themselves within the fortress. 
 
 All night long Ortnit dreamt of Sidrat, and then awoke and 
 wondered whether she would come to the trysting-place. In 
 the early morning, before the sun was up, the king mounted 
 his horse and rode away alone to Muntabure. He concealed 
 himself beneath the spreading boughs of a tamarind-tree, and 
 waited and waited, doubting, fearing, would she come or would 
 she not ? At length a postern door opened, and a white figure 
 came out. 
 
 " Sidrat," he cried, and clasped her in his arms. 
 
 " To horse, delay not a moment," whispered the dwarf ; " go 
 down that way, past the waterfall." 
 
 Ortnit at once obeyed, placed the maiden upon his horse, 
 and mounted himself. It was high time. He had scarcely got 
 beyond arrow-shot, when a watchman on the tower recognised 
 him by his helmet, and sounded the alarm. 
 
 Machorell and his men-at-arms hurried down to the fight.
 
 ORTNIT. 7, 
 
 Several times the fortune of the day changed sides ; and when 
 at length the battle was over, the besiegers were too much 
 weakened in number to attempt to carry the castle by storm ; 
 while the besieged were also in woeful plight, and their sorrow 
 was increased by the loss of the princess. 
 
 Ortnit began his retreat next morning. He found on his 
 arrival at Tyre that his ship was in good order and ready 
 for sea. So he gave orders for a speedy departure, and soon 
 the gallant little army was speeding homewards with Princess 
 Sidrat and much spoil. The Moorish girl proved a willing pupil 
 when the Christian priests of Lombardy taught her their religion, 
 so she was baptized, and received the name of Liebgart. Soon 
 after that, she and Ortnit were married at Castle Garden, and 
 the whole country rejoiced in the king's good fortune. 
 
 THE TOAD'S EGGS. 
 
 Ortnit and his wife were very happy together, and smiling 
 peace rested on the land. Honours were showered upon the 
 hero of so glorious a campaign, and even the imperial crown of 
 Rome was placed upon his head. 
 
 One day when Ortnit and his queen were seated in the 
 banqueting hall, their warriors feasting around them, a stranger 
 was announced, who said that he had come from the East, and 
 was the bearer of rich presents to the royal pair. After a few 
 minutes' delay, the ambassador was admitted. He was of gigantic 
 height, wild of aspect, and said that his name was Welle. He 
 announced that King Machorell had sent him to make friends 
 with Ortnit in his name and for his fair daughter's sake ; that 
 the king, in token of his reconciliation with his son-in-law, had 
 sent him the finest jewels to be found in all Syria. Having 
 thus spoken, Welle called his wife, Ruotze. She at once ap-
 
 72 LANGOBARDIAN LEGENDS. 
 
 peared, and was even taller and more hideous than himself. She 
 dragged four great coffers into the hall, the contents of which 
 she unpacked and displayed before the king and queen and all 
 the court The first contained dresses and steel wares of every 
 sort and kind ; the second was full of silver bracelets and 
 ornaments of wonderful workmanship ; the third was the same, 
 except that the ornaments were of gold instead of silver. The 
 fourth case was opened by the man himself, who lifted out of it, 
 very carefully, two enormous eggs of strange form and colour. 
 
 " These are the eggs of the Abrahamic magic toad," said the 
 man. " When they are hatched, which my wife will see to, you 
 will find in each the wondrous toad-stone, that shines like 
 the sun in a dark place, or else a marvellous creature that will 
 defend your coasts against every invader if you only feed it 
 well. I am King Machorell's chief huntsman, and understand 
 how to bring up the beast, and feed, and teach it its duties. 
 So, I pray you, appoint me and my wife a damp and quiet 
 place amongst the mountains where we can watch over the eggs. 
 Next year my royal master himself will cross the seas, make 
 friends with you in person, and see the miraculous result of 
 our care with his own eyes." 
 
 The queen's heart was filled with joy at these signs of her 
 father's forgiveness, and throwing her arms round her husband's 
 neck, she entreated that the proffered friendship should be 
 accepted. The courtiers were quite of her opinion ; but Zacharis, 
 the faithful heathen, shook his head, and spoke his distrust both 
 loudly and clearly. No one listened to him. The king gave 
 orders that the giants should be well treated, and provided 
 with food, and all they needed in the mountains, by the gover- 
 nor of the province in which the place most suitable for 
 hatching the eggs was situated. 
 
 High up in the mountains near Trient was a marshy bit of
 
 ORTNIJ. 73 
 
 ground, extending far within a cavern at the foot of a precipi- 
 tous rock. Welle and his wife took up their abode there, and 
 every day the governor sent them a supply of food. Ruotze 
 brooded over the eggs untiringly. Before very long the shells 
 cracked, and two little lind-worms (dragons) crept out. They 
 were pretty creatures, dainty in all their movements and obedient 
 to every command of the giant and his wife. The governor used 
 sometimes to go and see them, and delighted in their agility and 
 funny ways. The worst of it was that they had enormous appe- 
 tites, and the more they ate the faster they grew, and the more 
 they wanted to eat They were soon taller than their guardians 
 when they raised themselves in the air, and began to show them- 
 selves malicious and bad-tempered. The governor hesitated to 
 supply their wants when he found that they needed more than 
 two oxen a day ; the wrath of the creatures at what they con- 
 sidered semi-starvation was so great that Welle and Ruotze grew 
 frightened, and took refuge in another cave. As soon as their 
 guardians deserted them, the monsters crept out of their hole, 
 and began to wander over the whole district, devouring men and 
 cattle, and whatever came in their way. The people deserted 
 their old homes and fled to the mountain fastnesses. All in vain : 
 the lind-worms pursued them, and continued to devour all who 
 fell into their clutches. The governor sent out large detachments 
 of horse and foot against them, but hardly a man returned to 
 tell the tale of defeat and misery. And with every hearty meal 
 the monsters grew larger and stronger. Every one was in despair, 
 for it seemed as if the whole kingdom would be devastated. 
 
 ORTNIT'S FIGHT WITH THE LIND-WORM. 
 
 One day the Emperor Ortnit went to his wife and asked her 
 to help him to put on his armour, for he had to go out and
 
 74 LANGOBARDIAN LEGENDS. 
 
 fight a hard battle. She could hardly pronounce the words 
 " with whom ? " she trembled so. 
 
 "Well, Liebgart," he said, "you must know that the dragons 
 which are doing so much harm to the country are the toad- 
 stones your father sent me. I am the guardian of my people ; 
 and as they helped me when I went to Syria to win you, I 
 must now help them in my turn by going out against these 
 monsters to slay them, or myself be slain, I know not 
 which." 
 
 The empress wept and told her fears, but her husband com- 
 forted her by reminding her that he still had the good sword 
 Rosen, that could cut through steel and iron, and even dragon's 
 scales. " Should I not return," he continued, " an avenger will 
 come. If any one brings you back this ring that you once gave 
 me, you may know that he is my avenger, and give him your 
 hand in marriage." 
 
 He then kissed her and tore himself away. She gazed after 
 him with tearful eyes as long as he was in sight, thinking sadly 
 how many noble warriors had preceded him in his quest, and 
 how none of them had ever returned to home or friends. 
 
 Ortnit at length reached the rock where he expected to find 
 the lind-worms. Seeing them nowhere, he dismounted, blew his 
 horn, and loosed the faithful dog that he had taken with him 
 to help him to hunt the monsters down. Suddenly a door in 
 the rock opened, and the giant Welle came out, shouting to 
 him to come on, and calling him opprobrious names ; but the 
 king cut his great club in two with one stroke of his sword. 
 The giant sprang back, and in a moment had unsheathed a sword 
 six yards long, whirled it round his head, and struck Ortnit so 
 hard a blow upon the helmet that he fell senseless to the 
 ground. 
 
 " Well hit, old moon-calf," cried Ruotze, putting her head out
 
 ORTN1T. 75 
 
 at the door ; " let me go to him now and wring his neck, and 
 throw his body into the dragons' den." 
 
 At this moment the setter, which had disappeared in the 
 wood, began to bark furiously, and Ruotze rushed away to see 
 what was the matter. Upon this, Ortnit started to his feet, and 
 with a swing of his sword cut off one of the giant's legs. The 
 monster howled with pain, and defended himself resting against 
 the rock, but his opponent immediately cut off his other leg. 
 Hearing the noise, the giantess returned. Arming herself with 
 an uprooted tree, she hit out at the hero with all her strength ; 
 but, blinded by passion, she miscalculated the distance, and 
 brought the tree down so hard on her husband's head that she 
 split at open. Ortnit then slew the giantess, after which he rested 
 awhile from his labours ; ate and drank some of the provisions 
 he had brought with him, and let his steed graze at will on the 
 short sweet grass of the upland meadow. Rested and refreshed, 
 he once more set out on his quest. Riding through a wood, he 
 came up with some charcoal-burners, and asked them where he 
 should find the lind-worms. They tried to persuade him to turn 
 back, but in vain. Then they told him that the monsters had 
 set out to travel west ; that one of them, having a nest of 
 young ones, had stayed somewhere on the road hidden in a cave, 
 while the other had gone deeper into the mountains, perhaps 
 even into another land. 
 
 Unheeding the warning he had just received, Ortnit rode away 
 towards the west. When evening came, he rested for a short 
 time; but as his food was nearly finished, and he wanted to 
 reach an inhabited spot as soon as possible, he set out again, and 
 rode all night long. Next day he reached a meadow, and there 
 he saw little Alberich seated under a tree. The dwarf looked 
 very sad, and when Ortnit drew rein beside him, said : 
 
 " My dear son, you are going to your death. Return to Garden,
 
 7 6 LANGOBARD1AN LEGENDS. 
 
 for I have no power over the diabolical monsters you are seek- 
 ing. I cannot help you." 
 
 " I need no help," replied the hero. " Have I not the sword 
 Rosen ? It will help me to conquer the powers of hell that are 
 arrayed against my poor people." 
 
 " May you be successful ! " said the little creature, and springing 
 into the saddle he kissed his son. " May you be successful ! and 
 to that end, watch and slumber not. Remember that it is the 
 last advice I can give you. Now give me back the ring you 
 got from your mother. You shall have it again if you return to 
 Garden safe and sound." 
 
 Scarcely had Ortnit returned the ring when he felt a kiss upon 
 his lips, and the dwarf had disappeared. 
 
 The hero rode on unfalteringly over hill and dale, and through 
 many a wild glen. At last he unexpectedly reached the very 
 lime-tree under which he had had his first interview with Alberich. 
 The birds were singing as before. All looked peaceful and still. 
 Both Ortnit and his horse were worn out, so he dismounted, and 
 letting his steed graze, laid himself at full length on the soft grass, 
 his faithful dog at his side. He thought over his project, and was 
 strongly tempted to return home to Garden and sweet Liebgart ; 
 but he put the desire from him, " for," he reasoned within him- 
 self, "the prince and people are as one person, of which the 
 people form the body and the prince the head ; so the prince, to 
 be worthy of his high calling, must as far as in him lies protect 
 his people from all injury. And I have every right to trust to 
 my strength, my sword and my good cause for victory." It 
 seemed as though the birds in the linden-tree had read his 
 thoughts, and were singing a paean of joy and encouragement 
 over him and them. He watched them quietly, but soon fatigue 
 gained the upper hand his eyelids closed, and he fell asleep. 
 
 All at once the birds ceased their song, the branches stopped
 
 THE DRAGON FINDS ORTNIT ASLEEP. 
 
 77
 
 ORTNIT. 
 
 79 
 
 their soft waving to and fro, and the flowers bent their heads as 
 though a breath of poisoned air were passing over them. Crawl- 
 ing through the thicket, trees and bushes breaking with its 
 weight, came the terrible lind-worm, its jaws wide open, showing 
 its long pointed teeth. The faithful dog, with a howl of mingled 
 fear and anger, pulled at his master, hoping to wake him ; but 
 in vain, for Ortnit was as though in a charmed sleep. The dog 
 then sprang upon the dragon, but could not touch it because 
 of the way it slashed about with its tail. At this moment the 
 horrible creature caught sight of Ortnit, flung itself upon him, 
 carried him into the thicket, and then broke all his bones by 
 dashing him again and again upon the ground. But though his 
 bones -were broken, his armour remained whole as at the first. 
 Then taking the dead body up in its powerful jaws, the lind-worm 
 bore it home to its nest in the noisome cave, where its young 
 ones fell ravenously upon their favourite food, and devoured as 
 much as they could get at through the steel rings of the coat of 
 mail. The dog, which had followed the dragon home in hopes 
 of saving his master, watched all night by the cave, but finding 
 himself powerless to help, set out early next morning on his 
 way back to Garden. 
 
 SlDRAT THE SORROWFUL (LlEBGART). 
 
 Meanwhile Liebgart and the old queen were very anxious. 
 They hoped and feared alternately. On the fourth day, as they 
 were sitting together, they heard something scratching at the 
 door. Liebgart opened it, and saw the faithful dog, her husband's 
 companion on his last journey. Instead of showing his usual joy 
 at seeing her, the dog crept slowly in, and lay down at the old 
 queen's feet with a low, moaning whine.
 
 8o LANGOBARDIAN LEGENDS. 
 
 "He is dead murdered by the monsters," cried the unhappy 
 mother. These were the last words she ever spoke, for next 
 moment she sank back dead in her chair. 
 
 The shrieks of the young queen brought her women into the 
 room, and soon the sad news was known to all. There was now 
 no king in Lombardy, no one to keep order in the land. The 
 great nobles fought and quarrelled incessantly, and the country 
 was split into factions. At last, tired of this state of anarchy, it 
 was agreed by the notables in council that the only thing that 
 could save the kingdom was for Licbgart to choose a husband 
 who had sufficient wisdom and power to make a good ruler. 
 They went to the queen, each hoping in his secret heart that he 
 would be chosen by her. But on hearing what was required of 
 her, she answered with solemn earnestness that she would pre- 
 serve her faith to Ortnit unbroken, and that none was worthy to 
 succeed him unless he could slay the lind-worms and avenge his 
 death. The nobles looked at each other in a shamefaced man- 
 ner, and hastened to leave the royal presence ; but avarice and 
 ambition soon regained the upper hand, and civil war seemed 
 imminent. Liebgart, deprived of all means of support, for even 
 the treasury had been despoiled by the nobles, was forced, in 
 company with a few women who were faithful to her, to make 
 her own livelihood by spinning. 
 
 The Margrave of Tuscany was much distressed when he 
 heard of the straits to which the queen was reduced. He offered 
 her an asylum in his country ; but she said that at Garden she 
 had been happy with Ortnit, and there she also wished to 
 sorrow for him. Touched by her faithfulness, the prince sent 
 her food and wine, that she might no longer have to work for 
 the necessaries of life. So she lived on, the Lombards trying 
 to force her to seek refuge from the ills of life by a second 
 marriage ; but in vain ; she bore all the miseries of her lot with
 
 ORTNIT. 8 1 
 
 quiet patience, for she strengthened herself with thoughts of her 
 husband and of the avenger for whom she hoped. 
 
 This hope, which sometimes rose like a star on the cloudy 
 night of sorrow in which she lived, was one day to be fulfilled, 
 but not for a long time.
 
 THE AMELUNGS. 
 
 THE AMELUNGS. 
 
 I. 
 
 HUGDIETERICH AND 
 WOLFDIETERICH. 
 
 HUGDIETERICH AND FAIR 
 HILDBURG. 
 
 TT 7"HILE Ortnit's ancestors 
 V * ruled over Lombardy, the 
 great Emperor Anzius lived at Constantinople, and governed 
 Greece, Bulgaria, and many other lands. When he died, he
 
 HUGDIETERICH AND HILDBURG. 83 
 
 confided his son, Hugdieterich, to the care of his faithful friend, 
 Berchtung, duke of Meran, whom he had himself brought up, 
 and afterwards covered with honours. 
 
 Berchtung felt that his first duty was to choose a wife for 
 his ward, and that only a princess of equal rank and great 
 beauty and wisdom would be a suitable helpmeet for so 
 mighty a prince. He had travelled far and wide, and amongst 
 all the princesses he knew there was one and only one that 
 he could propose as a wife for his liege lord. But there were 
 many difficulties in the way. Berchtung confided his troubles 
 to the prince, and told him how much he wished to bring 
 about a marriage between him and Hildburg, daughter of King 
 Walgund of Thessalonica ; but he feared it would be impossible, 
 for Walgund loved the maiden so dearly that he had shut her 
 up in a high tower, and permitted no one to speak to her 
 except the old watchman, himself, her mother, and her maid. 
 This he did, fearing lest she should marry and leave him. 
 
 Hugdieterich listened to the strange story with great interest, 
 and determined to get a sight of the maiden if he could. So 
 he set to work to learn all that he might of women's works 
 and women's ways, even going so far as to dress himself in 
 women's garments. After which he announced his intention 
 of going to Thessalonica to make fair Hildburg's acquaintance. 
 
 He arrived in due course at Thessalonica, disguised as a great 
 lady, with a numerous train of female servants. Hearing of the 
 new arrival, the king and queen invited the stranger to visit 
 them. She did so, and gave their majesties to understand that 
 she was Hildgunde, sister of the emperor Hugdieterich, and 
 that she had been outlawed by her brother. She begged the 
 king to protect her, and to provide her with a lodging in his 
 palace, and at the same time presented the queen with a costly 
 piece of embroidery, as a sign of her good will. Her request
 
 84 THE AMELUNGS. 
 
 was granted. The queen then begged her to teach her ladies 
 to embroider as she did herself. After this all went so well 
 that Berchtung and his men-at-arms were sent back to Con- 
 stantinople, their protection being no longer needed. 
 
 Fair Hildburg heard what was going on, and begged her 
 father to allow her to see the embroideries, and the artist who 
 worked them. No sooner had she done so than she wished to 
 learn the art. Walgund gave his consent, thinking the stranger 
 a very suitable companion for his daughter, and Hildburg 
 found great pleasure in her company. It was not until weeks 
 afterwards that she discovered who her teacher was, and when 
 she did their friendship became stronger than before, until it 
 grew into acknowledged love. 
 
 The fear lest their secret marriage should be discovered, one 
 day reached a climax. 
 
 " What will become of us ? " cried Hildburg. " My father 
 will never forgive us. He will order us both to be slain." 
 
 "Then, at least, we shall die together," replied Hugdieterich, 
 "but I hope for better things. The guards and your personal 
 attendants are on our side, and I expect Berchtung very soon 
 to come and take me home to Constantinople, on the plea that 
 my brother has forgiven me. I shall then send an ambassador 
 to ask for your hand in marriage ; and when your father knows 
 our secret, he will not refuse his consent." 
 
 Berchtung came as Hugdieterich had expected, and fetched 
 him away ; but the wooing had to be put off till a more con- 
 venient season, as war had broken out on the frontier, and the 
 emperor was obliged to take the field. Meantime Hildburg was 
 in greater danger at home than her husband in the midst of 
 battle. She had a son. He was born quietly in the tower, with- 
 out any one except the three faithful friends who guarded the 
 princess there knowing aught about it. It was not until
 
 HUGDIETERICH AND HILDBURG. 85 
 
 months after this event that the queen, her mother, sent to 
 say that she was coming to visit her daughter. She followed 
 almost on the heels of the messenger. The porter pretended 
 to have great difficulty in unlocking the door, and by the time 
 he succeeded, the watchman had smuggled the child down to 
 a safe hiding-place beside the moat. It was already evening, 
 so the queen spent the night with her daughter. When she 
 was gone next morning, the faithful servant hastened to where 
 he had hidden the child, and it was not to be found. After 
 long and anxious search, he returned to his mistress, and told 
 her that he had taken the boy to a nurse, who had promised 
 to bring him up carefully and well. 
 
 Soon after this, Berchiung arrived at Thessalonica to thank 
 the king in his master's name for the reception he and his 
 family had given the princess, his sister, and to ask for the 
 hand of the Lady Hildburg, with whom the emperor had fallen 
 in love from his sister's description. The king put off giving 
 any immediate answer to this request, and asked Berchtung to 
 a great hunt he intended to give in his honour on the fol- 
 lowing day. 
 
 It was a lovely morning when the hunters set out for the 
 forest. They rode on cheerily, and had a good day's sport. At 
 length chance led the king and Berchtung past the tower 
 where sad Hildburg spent her weary days in waiting for the 
 husband who came not. As they rode along, they discovered 
 the fresh track of a wolf leading towards a spring. They fol- 
 lowed the spoor, which led them to a den in a thicket close 
 by, and in the den was a strange sight. 
 
 In the centre of the nest, and surrounded by a litter of wolf-cubs 
 so young as to be still blind, lay a beautiful child. He was 
 playing with the little wolves, pulling their ears, and chatting in 
 baby language such as only mothers and nurses can translate.
 
 86 THE AMLLVNGS. 
 
 But evidently his companions did not like his attentions, and the 
 mother-wolf's ire was so roused against him, that it wanted very 
 little more to make her spring upon the child, and put a sudden 
 end to his play. The old wolf came up at the same moment, 
 so that the danger was much increased. Seeing this, the two 
 hunters flung their spears with so much skill as to kill both the 
 old wolves on the spot. Then the king lifted the baby in his 
 arms as gently as if it had been his own child. 
 
 " It's very strange," he said, " how much I feel drawn to this boy. 
 But he must be hungry, poor little man. My daughter's tower is 
 close to here ; we shall find some fresh milk there, and she will be 
 glad to see the little fellow ; she is so fond of children, and seldom 
 gets a chance of seeing them." 
 
 They walked on slowly, Berchtung carrying the child, while the 
 king examined the wolfs track with great interest and attention. 
 
 " Look here," he said, " is it not strange ? The tracks lead 
 straight from the den to the moat ; I wonder if the wolf stole 
 the child from anywhere near this." 
 
 Fair Hildburg was not a little astonished when she heard her 
 father's tale. She took the child in her arms, and at once 
 recognised him by a birth-mark on his arm in the shape of a red 
 cross. She struggled to conceal her feelings, and offered as calmly 
 as she could to take care of the child, and only begged her father 
 to send a nurse as quickly as possible. 
 
 When he got home, the king told the queen of his adventure, 
 and she was very curious to see the child. She sent for a nurse, 
 and accompanied her to the tower. Arrived there, the queen 
 sought her daughter, and found her busied with the child. 
 
 " How I wish," said the queen, taking it in her arms, " that I 
 knew who the boy's mother is ! She must be in such distress." 
 
 "Yes," answered Hildburg; "but look at his clothes, how fine 
 they are ! They show that he is of princely descent."
 
 HUGDIETERICH AND HILDBURG. 87 
 
 " Oh dear," sighed the queen, " what a lucky woman I should 
 think myself if I had a gransdon like that ! " 
 
 Hildburg could keep her secret no longer. She threw herself 
 into her mother's arms, and told her, with many tears, that she was 
 secretly married to Hugdieterich, and that the child was theirs 
 The queen was startled, angry, but it was done, and could not 
 be undone. It was at least a comfort to think that the child's 
 father was a mighty emperor ! She told her daughter she would 
 say nothing ; but would think what was best to be done. 
 
 Walgund felt strangely attracted by the child. He came to the 
 tower almost every day to visit it and his daughter. On such 
 occasions the queen would tell him how much she wished for a 
 son-in-law and such a grandchild as this. She reminded him that 
 they might in their old age fall a prey to the barbarous tribes 
 in the neighbourhood, if they had not some young, strong man 
 to take their part, and added that in her opinion Hugdieterich 
 would not be amiss. In short, the queen prepared the way so well 
 that when Berchtung made his formal offer for the princess' hand, 
 the king after slight hesitation gave his consent, on the sole 
 condition that Hildburg was not averse to taking Hugdieterich 
 as a husband. The queen then told her lord the whole story. 
 
 " Wonderful ! " he exclaimed, too much astonished to be angry. 
 
 Hugdieterich arrived soon afterwards, and was publicly married 
 to the Lady Hildburg. After the wedding festivities were over, he 
 set out for Constantinople, accompanied by his beautiful wife, and 
 the little boy, who was named Wolfdieterich, in remembrance of 
 his first adventure. 
 
 With the empress went Sabene, one of the notables of Thessa- 
 lonica, as her father had much confidence in his wisdom, and 
 wished him to be his daughter's counsellor in any matters of 
 difficulty. He made himself so useful, that he soon became 
 necessary to her, and at the same time won the confidence of
 
 THE AMELUNGS. 
 
 honest Duke Berchtung so completely that he persuaded the 
 emperor to make Sabene regent during their absence on a foreign 
 campaign. 
 
 The high position he had gained through the duke's kindness, 
 made the false-hearted man bolder and more self-confident than 
 ever. One day he went so far as to speak unbecomingly to the 
 empress. The noble lady reproved him severely, and he fell at 
 her feet, begging her pardon, and entreating her not to tell the 
 emperor of his impertinence. She promised, but commanded him 
 never more to appear in her presence. 
 
 When Hugdieterich returned victorious, Sabene was the first to 
 meet him. He gave him an account of his stewardship, and at last 
 remarked, as though by chance, that there was a great deal of 
 dissatisfaction amongst the people regarding Wolfdieterich, the 
 heir-apparent, who rumour said was not the king's child, but the 
 son of an elf, or, worse still, of an alraun, who had been palmed 
 off upon the royal family by a witch. Hugdieterich laughed at 
 the story as at a nursery tale. The only effect it had on him was 
 to make him take his son from under the charge of Sabene, and 
 give him into the care of faithful Berchtung, that he might learn 
 all knightly exercises with the duke's sixteen sons. 
 
 Time passed on, and the empress presented her husband with 
 two other sons, named Bogen and Waxmuth, who were also sent 
 to Berchtung to be educated. The old duke loved all his pupils 
 dearly, but Wolfdieterich was his special favourite, for he showed 
 himself full of every quality that makes a true knight and noble 
 warrior. The busy emperor seldom found time to go to Lilien- 
 porte, the castle of Meran, and Hildburg was a still less frequent 
 visitor, so that Wolfdieterich had grown accustomed to look upon 
 Berchtung as his father, and the duchess as his mother. His 
 brothers, Bogen and Waxmuth, had long since returned to 
 Constantinople, where crafty Sabene did all that he could to gain
 
 WOLFDIETERICH. 89 
 
 their friendship and confidence. Their mother was sorry to see it ; 
 and fearing lest evil should come of it, she told her husband all 
 that had happened between them many years before. Hugdie- 
 terich's wrath blazed forth, and Sabene scarcely escaped alive. 
 He fled from the country, and sought refuge amongst his kindred 
 in the land of the Huns. 
 
 Hugdieterich, worn out by many anxieties and battles, grew 
 old before his time. When he felt his end approach, he arranged 
 all his affairs with the utmost care. He bequeathed to his 
 eldest son Constantinople and the larger part of the empire, while 
 the two younger sons were given kingdoms farther to the south, 
 and the empress and Berchtung were to see the will carried' 
 out. But scarcely was the emperor laid in the grave, when the 
 notables of the land met in council, and demanded the recall 
 of Sabene, because otherwise they feared he might carry out his 
 threat of bringing the wild Huns upon them. The empress 
 did not feel herself strong enough to withstand the clamour of 
 the nobles, so she sent for the traitor. 
 
 WOLFDIETERICH AND HIS ELEVEN. 
 
 No sooner had Sabene returned than he began to scheme 
 again. He spread amongst the people his silly tales about 
 the origin of Wolfdieterich. He said that the empress had 
 oeen secretly wedded to an elf while she lived in that solitary 
 tower; and that it was elfish spells that had prevented the 
 wolves from tearing the child in pieces. The populace believed 
 the story the more easily from its utter incredibility, and demanded 
 that Wolfdieterich should remain at Meran. Sabene even suc- 
 ceeded in making the royal brothers, Waxmuth and Bogen, 
 believe his tale, and give him the power for which he hungered. 
 Sure of his own position, he acted with the utmost harshness.
 
 90 THE AMELUNGS. 
 
 He bade the empress leave the palace and go to her son at 
 Meran. He only allowed her to take with her a maid-servant, 
 a horse, and her clothes. Everything else that she possessed, 
 whether through her father or her husband, had to be left 
 behind. The two young kings did not interfere on her behalf, 
 for Sabene had shown them that her treasures would be very 
 useful to them in equipping an army, supposing Wolfdieterich 
 and the Duke of Meran attacked them. 
 
 When Hildburg arrived at Hugelwarte, an outwork of Lilien- 
 porte, she was travel-stained and sorely spent. At first Duke 
 Berchtung refused to admit her, because she had recalled 
 Sabene contrary to his advice. But at last, rilled with pity 
 for the unhappy woman, he led her into the castle, and treated 
 her there with royal honours. The duchess received her sur- 
 rounded by seventeen young men, who all called her mother. 
 The empress did not at once recognise her son, who was the 
 tallest and stateliest amongst them ; but as soon as each knew 
 the other, Wolfdieterich, throwing himself into her arms, tried 
 to comfort her by promising to restore her to her former rank 
 and splendour. 
 
 Duke Berchtung at first counselled peace, because the position 
 of the two kings seemed to him so strong and unassailable; 
 but at length, carried away by his foster-son's enthusiasm, he 
 not only gave his consent, but placed his sixteen sons and 
 their sixteen thousand followers at the disposal of the prince. 
 It was settled, while the men were being called together, that 
 the duke and Wolfdieterich should set out for Constantinople, 
 and see whether they might not attain their end by peaceful 
 means. 
 
 The day after their arrival, they met Sabene and the kings 
 in council. Berchtung was received with all honour, while 
 nobody seemed even to see his companion. When Wolfdieterich
 
 WOLFDIETERICH. 9 r 
 
 rose, and demanded his rightful share of the royal heritage, 
 Bogen answered that- ? changeling had no right to any share ; 
 and Sabene added tnac he ought to apply to the alraun, his 
 father, for a kingdom in the realms of hell. Wolfdieterich laid 
 his hand on his sword ; but his foster-father's words and looks 
 of entreaty sufficed to calm him down and prevent any open 
 expression of anger. The kings and Sabene did their utmost to 
 persuade the duke to join their party, but in vain ; and when the 
 council broke up, the old man went away, hiding his displeasure 
 as best he could. He and Wolfdieterich mounted their horses 
 and returned to Lilienporte without loss of time. 
 
 After a few days' rest they set out again for Constantinople, 
 but this time in battle array. On reaching the borders of Meran, 
 they found the royal forces drawn up to meet them. As evening 
 was closing in, they encamped in a wide valley surrounded on 
 all sides by a forest. Next morning the troops rose refreshed, 
 and each side made sure of victory. 
 
 The battle-song was now raised, and echoed amongst the 
 mountains like rolling thunder. Next instant the armies met. 
 Wolfdieterich was always to be seen in front. All at once he 
 turned to Berchtung, and said : 
 
 " Do you see Sabene and my brothers on yonder hill ? I will 
 go and see whether they or the alraun's son are the better 
 men." 
 
 With these words, he set spurs to his horse and dashed through 
 the enemy's ranks. Old Berchtung, who had vainly tried to 
 restrain him, now followed with his sons and a small body 
 of his men-at-arms. 
 
 As they neared the hill, they found themselves surrounded 
 by the Greeks on every side. The carnage was terrible. Six 
 of Berchtung's sixteen sons fell at his side, while a stone struck 
 Wolfdieterich on the helmet, and stretched him senseless on
 
 92 THE AMELUNGS. 
 
 the ground. But the old duke and his other sons picked him 
 up, and brought him safely off the field. All night long they 
 fled, and after resting only a few hours during the day, resumed 
 their journey. On their arrival at Lilienporte, they found that 
 many of their men had got there before them. 
 
 " We will await the traitors here," said Berchtung. " They 
 may break their teeth on our stone walls, and then go away 
 worse than they came. We have supplies enough to last four 
 years, and can bid them defiance." 
 
 Soon after this, the enemy appeared before the fortress. 
 Sabene demanded that the prince should be delivered up to 
 them, and threatened that if this were refused he would burn the 
 castle and all within it. The only answer made by the besieged 
 was a sortie, led by Wolfdieterich in person. He still was hope- 
 ful of victory, but numbers prevailed. He had to retreat, and 
 with difficulty regained the fortress. From that day he lost the 
 confidence and gaiety of youth, and became grave and silent ; 
 his trust in the sure success of a righteous cause was gone. He 
 lost his faith in Divine justice, and said he had fallen a victim to 
 the resistless power that men call Fate. 
 
 SlGEMINNE. 
 
 The siege had already lasted three years, and yet there was 
 no hope of an end. The food had grown scanty ; and if the 
 enemy chose to make famine their ally, the castle must finally 
 capitulate. The duke vainly sought for some plan of deliverance. 
 One day Wolfdieterich came to him, and said that he intended 
 to slip out of the fortress by night, make his way through the 
 enemy's camp, and go to Lombardy, there to ask the help of 
 Ortnit, the powerful emperor of the West. The old man did 
 his best to dissuade the lad, reminding him that their provisions 
 would last yet a year, and that the enemy, already weakened
 
 WOLFDIE T ERICH. 
 
 93 
 
 by sickness, might raise the siege before long. The young hero 
 was not to be held back : at midnight he took leave of his foster- 
 father and his other faithful friends. 
 
 " May God protect you, my dear lord," said Berchtung, clasping 
 him in his arms. " You will have to cross the deserts of Roumelia, 
 which are uninhabited, save by wild beasts and evil spirits. There 
 you will find Rauch-Else, who lies in wait for young warriors. 
 Beware of her, for she is a witch, cunning in enchantments. If 
 you are fortunate enough to reach the emperor Ortnit, do not 
 forget your trusty henchmen, me and my ten remaining sons." 
 
 So they parted. They arranged that the besieged should 
 make a sally through the principal gate of the fortress, to draw 
 off the enemy's attention to that quarter, while Wolfdieterich 
 got away by a postern door at the back. He was nearly out 
 of the enemy's camp when he was recognised. Immediately 
 mounting his horse, he drew his sword and cut his way through 
 their midst, and once in the dark forest beyond, he was safe 
 from pursuit. All night long Wolfdieterich rode through the 
 wood. He heard the were-wolves howling in the distance, but 
 none came near to seek his life. As morning broke, he found 
 himself by the side of a broad moorland lake. All sorts of 
 strange creatures rose out of it, and sought to bar the road. Two 
 of them he killed, but he let the others escape. He wandered 
 three days in the wilderness, finding nothing for his horse or 
 himself to eat. He shared the bread he had in his wallet with 
 his steed. It was but a little at best ; and the faithful creature 
 was at last too exhausted to carry him farther, so he dismounted 
 and led it by the bridle. 
 
 On the fourth evening, fatigue overpowered him so much that 
 he was forced to rest. He lighted a fire with the brush- 
 wood scattered about. The warmth did him good, for a cold 
 mist hung over the face of the earth. He and his horse
 
 94 THE AMELUNGS. 
 
 quenched their thirst at a neighbouring rill, after which he lay 
 down, and making a pillow of his saddle, thought over his sad 
 fate. Sleep was beginning to steal upon his senses, when he 
 was suddenly roused by a noise in the dry grass. Something 
 black, and horrible to look upon, crept nearer and nearer. It 
 raised itself in the air; its height was appalling. It spoke 
 to him, not with a human voice ; the sound was more like 
 the growling of an angry bear. 
 
 " How dare you rest here ! " said the monster. " I am Rauch- 
 Else (rough Alice), and this ground belongs to me ; besides 
 which, I have another and a wider realm. Get up, and go at 
 once or I will throw you into the quaking bog." 
 
 Wolfdieterich would willingly have obeyed, but he was too 
 tired. He could not move. He therefore begged the bear-like 
 queen to give him something to eat, telling her that his cruel 
 brothers had deprived him of his inheritance, and that he was 
 now starving in the desert. 
 
 " So you are Wolfdieterich," growled the bear-woman. " Well, 
 Fate has marked you out to be my husband, so you may count 
 upon my aid." 
 
 Upon which she gave him a juicy root, and scarcely had he 
 eaten one mouthful when his courage returned, and his strength 
 seemed tenfold what it had ever been before. It even came 
 into his mind that he could conquer the Greek forces single- 
 handed, and set his eleven faithful servants free. In obedience 
 to Rauch-Else's command, he gave the rest of the root to his 
 horse, which first smelt it carefully, and then ate eagerly. No 
 sooner had it done so, than it began to paw the ground, and 
 neighed with eagerness to resume its journey. 
 
 " Speak, will you be my true love ? " asked the bear-woman, 
 coming up to the youth, and preparing to clutch him to her 
 heart with her terrible claws.
 
 WOLFDIETER1CH. 
 
 "Keep back," he cried, drawing his sword. "Demon that 
 you are, seek a husband in hell, where alone you will find a 
 helpmeet worthy of you." 
 
 "Have I not fed and succoured you?" asked Rauch-Else ; 
 " was that done like a demon ? I have long waited for you 
 to come and free me from an evil spell. Love me, and save 
 me." 
 
 It seemed to the warrior as if her voice had all at once grown 
 soft and human in its tones. 
 
 "Yes, yes," he said, "if only you were not so rough and 
 hairy." 
 
 He had hardly spoken, when the black fleece slowly slipped 
 to her feet, and a beautiful woman stood before him, her brow 
 encircled by a diadem, and her green silken garment confined 
 at the waist by a jewelled belt. Her voice was sweet and 
 thrilling as she repeated her former words. 
 
 " Speak, young hero, will you love me ?" 
 
 His only answer was to clasp her in his arms and kiss 
 her. 
 
 "You must know," she said, "that although Rauch-Else was 
 my name here in the wilderness, I am really Sigeminne, queen 
 of Old-Troja. Your 'yes' has set me free from the spell of 
 the enchanter, so we can now set out for my country, of which 
 you shall be king." 
 
 Full of joy and thankfulness, they started on their way, 
 followed by Wolfdieterich's horse. At last they heard the 
 sound of waves breaking upon the shore, to which they soon 
 afterwards descended. There they found a curious vessel await- 
 ing them. The prow was formed of a fish's head, large and 
 pointed. At the helm stood a merman, whose outstretched 
 arm was the handle by which the rudder, or fish's tail, was 
 worked. Instead of sails, the vessel was rigged out with
 
 96 THE AMELUNGS. 
 
 griffins' wings, the advantage of which was, that they enabled 
 it to go against both wind and tide, when such a course was 
 thought desirable. The merman was so marvellously fashioned 
 out of cedar-wood from Mount Lebanon, that it could steer 
 wherever the travellers wished without their help. There were 
 other wonders on board the ship, such as a cap of darkness, 
 a ring with a stone ensuring victory to the wearer, a shirt of 
 palm-silk, and many other things. The shirt seemed as though 
 it would only fit a little child ; but when Sigeminne put it 
 on her lover, it grew bigger and bigger, until it fitted him 
 exactly. 
 
 " Take great care of it," she said, " and wear it whenever 
 you are in any danger, for it will protect you alike from 
 steel and stone, from fire and dragon's tooth." 
 
 Wafted by the griffins' wings, the vessel clove the western 
 sea, swift as the wind, and soon brought the travellers to Old- 
 Troja. There the people received their beloved queen with 
 shouts of joy, and cheered loud and long when she introduced 
 the stately warrior Wolfdieterich as her future husband. The 
 marriage was solemnized with great festivities, and a life of 
 joy began for the new king. By the side of his fair wife he 
 forgot all his misfortunes and sorrows, and, alas ! even the 
 Eleven Friends he had left in peril of their lives. Now and 
 then, when he was alone, the memory of all that had come 
 and gone would cross his mind like something he had dreamt, 
 and then he would reproach himself with neglecting his duty; 
 but Sigeminne had only to take his hand, and he once more 
 forgot that honour and duty alike bade him be up and doing. 
 
 Once when he, his wife, and the whole court were out hunt- 
 ing, a wondrous stag with golden horns broke out of a 
 neighbouring thicket. He did not seem to be afraid, but, 
 after looking at the hunters, turned back to the wood.
 
 WOLFDIETERICH. 97 
 
 " Up, good folk," cried Sigeminne. " Whoever kills that stag, 
 and brings me the golden antlers, shall stand high in my 
 favour, and receive a ring from my own hand." 
 
 A number of huntsmen started in pursuit, first among them 
 Wolfdieterich. The stag led him by many devious paths, 
 only to disappear at last. Wolfdieterich returned to the tents 
 much disappointed. When he got there, he found all in 
 confusion ; for that terrible magician, Giant Drusian, followed 
 by many armed dwarfs, had fallen on the camp during the 
 absence of the king and his warriors, and had carried off the 
 queen. No one knew where he had taken her to. Wolfdieterich 
 was now as much alone in the world, and as wretched, as he 
 had been that terrible day in the desert One thought filled his 
 mind the thought of Sigeminne. He would seek her through 
 the world ; and if he could not find her, he would die ! 
 
 He exchanged his royal robes for a pilgrim's dress, and 
 hid his sword in a hollow staff, which served to support him 
 on his journey. Thus accoutred, he wandered through many 
 lands, asking everywhere for the castle of Giant Drusian. At 
 length he learnt from a tiny dwarf, that the man he sought 
 lived in the lofty mountains far over the sea, and that many 
 dwarfs owned him for their lord. He set out again, and 
 journeyed on and on, till at length the castle came in sight. 
 He sat down to rest by a spring, and gazed longingly at the 
 place where, as he believed and hoped, he should find his 
 wife. His fatigue was so great that he fell asleep, dreamt of 
 her, and was happy in his dreams. 
 
 All at once he was wakened by a rough voice, and a blow 
 on the ribs. 
 
 " What, ho ! pilgrim," said the voice. " Have you snored 
 long enough? Come home with me, and have some food. 
 My wife wants to look at you." 
 
 G
 
 98 THE AMELUNGS. 
 
 Wolfdieterich sprang to his feet, and followed the giant who 
 had wakened him so roughly, and who now strode before him 
 to the castle. He knew that he had reached the end of his pil- 
 grimage, and entered the wide hall with thanksgiving and joy. 
 
 There sat Sigeminne, her eyes red with weeping ; and as 
 she looked at him, he saw that she knew who he was. He 
 pulled himself together with a violent effort not to betray his 
 identity. 
 
 " There, wife," growled Drusian, " there's the priest you wanted 
 to see, that he might speak to you about his religion. What 
 a mite he is, to be sure, and as dumb as a lizard into the bargain ! 
 There, bag-of-bones," he added, turning to the pilgrim, " sit down 
 by the fire, and see if some of our good food will not warm your 
 thin blood." 
 
 The pilgrim did as he was desired, for, anxious and excited as 
 he felt, he was starving. Dwarfs brought in food and drink, and 
 he ate till his hunger was satisfied. The giant questioned him 
 up and down, and received short answers, some of them, it must 
 be confessed, far enough from the truth ! 
 
 As twilight deepened, Drusian seized the lady by the hand, 
 and pulled her from her seat, saying, " There, you see the son 
 of the alraun, who freed you from the bearskin, he will not 
 succeed in freeing you from me a second time. He fears a 
 broken skull too much. The term you asked for is over now, 
 so come with me." 
 
 He would have dragged Sigeminne from the room, but the 
 pilgrim had already thrown aside his disguise, and drawn his 
 sword from the hollow staff. 
 
 "Back, monster," he shouted, "that is my wife." With these 
 words he sprang upon the giant. The suddenness of the attack 
 made the latter jump back, exclaiming, " Why, alraun, are you 
 Wolfdieterich? If that is the case, we must have everything
 
 WOLFDIETERICH. 
 
 fair and in order. You must arm and fight with me if you 
 arc brave enough, that is to say. Sigeminne shall be the wife 
 of the conqueror." 
 
 The hero consented to fight the duel, and the dwarfs brought 
 him three suits of armour to choose from. One was of gold, 
 the second of silver, and the third of iron, very heavy, but old 
 and rusty. He chose the last, but kept his own sword. 
 Drusian also put on his coat of mail, and caught up his battle- 
 axe. 
 
 After some time, Wolfdieterich's shield was broken by a 
 violent blow from his opponent's axe. The hero seemed lost ; 
 but avoiding the next blow, and grasping his sword with both 
 hands, he struck so hard a stroke that the sharp blade cut deep 
 down through neck and shoulder. Scarcely had the monster 
 fallen, when the dwarfs swarmed round the victor with their 
 small daggers and spears to avenge their master. The fine 
 needle-points pierced the rings of his armour, but the palm-silk 
 shirt protected the solitary warrior from every wound. At last 
 he forced them back, and husband and wife were able to clasp 
 each other's hands, and to assure one another of a love that 
 would last till death. 
 
 " Let us away from this cursed house," cried the hero ; " who 
 can tell but the dwarfish rabble are spinning new toils for us." 
 
 They hastened out into the deserted court, and then sought 
 a stable, in which they found two saddled horses. These they 
 mounted, and rode away. 
 
 After a long and tiring journey, they reached Old-Troja, 
 where the return of the queen and her brave husband was 
 greeted with joy. 
 
 Sigeminne ruled her people with a gentle hand, but justly 
 and firmly; no wonder, then, that they loved her. After her 
 return, she was even sweeter and more thoughtful for others than
 
 THE AMELUNGS. 
 
 she had ever been before ; but she was pale and thin, and what 
 was worse, grew paler and thinner day by day. One evening, 
 when she and her husband were sitting alone together, she 
 raised her sweet face to his and said, " When I am gone, you 
 must go back to your own country and people, for then you 
 will be looked upon as a stranger and usurper here, and the 
 land might be wasted by civil war." 
 
 The thought of her death cut him to the heart, but he strove 
 to look cheerful for fear of distressing his wife. He redoubled 
 his anxious care of her, but all in vain : her doom was sealed. 
 He had been strong enough to conquer the giant and save his 
 wife, but he was powerless to save her now. She died in his 
 arms, and he laid her in her early grave. 
 
 THE KNIFE MAN. 
 
 Once, when he was standing sadly by her last resting-place, 
 he suddenly remembered that she had bidden him go back to 
 his own country when she was dead ; and then the thought of 
 his mother and his Faithful Eleven rushed back into his mind. 
 He also recollected that he had never carried out his plan of 
 calling the Emperor Ortnit to their assistance. 
 
 " I shall never forget you, dear wife," he murmured, " but I 
 should be unworthy of your great love for me if I did not at 
 once set out to bring freedom to those who have been true to 
 the death in their fidelity to me." 
 
 He turned away, and hastened to make ready for his journey. 
 
 He passed through many lands, rich and poor. One evening 
 he saw a castle before him, and asked a passing traveller to 
 whom it belonged. 
 
 " Sir," replied the man, crossing himself, " ride on quickly, if 
 you be a Christian, for that stronghold is where the heathen
 
 WOLFDIETERICH. 103 
 
 king Beligan lives, with his daughter Marpilia, a maiden learned 
 in magic arts. He slays every Christian he can catch, and 
 sticks his head on a spike placed on the battlements for the 
 purpose. Look, there is one place empty still ; beware lest your 
 head be sent to fill it." 
 
 The hero explained that he felt no fear of that, as his armour 
 was good, and he must have sharp weapons who sought to pierce 
 it. But the traveller assured him that the king so thoroughly 
 understood the art of dagger-throwing, that none could escape 
 from him alive. 
 
 Wolfdieterich and the man parted company. The former 
 would have ridden past the castle, had not the owner come out 
 to meet him, and invited him to spend the night with him ; an 
 invitation the hero was far too brave a man to decline. The 
 daughter of his host, a young and beautiful girl, received him 
 at the gate, and led him into the hall. While they supped 
 together, Wolfdieterich, on being questioned, told them whence 
 he came, and whither he was going ; and Beligan saw from his 
 answers that he was a Christian. The heathen king then 
 informed his guest, with a diabolical smile, that he had come 
 just in time to provide a head to make up the required number 
 on the battlements. Wolfdieterich understood what was meant, 
 but shewing no signs of fear, he raised his goblet to his lips, 
 and emptied it to the health of his host and his daughter. 
 
 Bedtime came, and Beligan, taking him aside, told him that 
 he had found grace in the eyes of his daughter Marpilia, and 
 that he might marry her if he liked, receiving both castle and 
 kingdom as her dowry, on one condition that he would worship 
 Mahmet. Wolfdieterich asked for time to think over the pro- 
 posal ; but the heathen smiled, and said 
 
 "You may have to-night to consider the plan; that is long 
 enough."
 
 J04 THE AMELUNGS. 
 
 He then offered him a goblet of wine, into which he had 
 secretly thrown a powder. 
 
 " Drink, friend," he said, " and you will sleep long and soundly 
 to-night" 
 
 The hero was on the point of obeying, when Marpilia, who had 
 re-entered, snatched the goblet out of her father's hand, and 
 emptying it on the floor, exclaimed, 
 
 " Not so, father. I intend to teach the stranger better things 
 to-night." 
 
 She led her guest to his room, and said, 
 
 " I have saved you from a great danger. My father was about 
 to give you a sleeping potion, that he might slip into your room 
 in the night and cut off your head, as he has already done to 
 many a Christian. I now offer you my hand and kingdom, if 
 you will only pretend to follow our faith." 
 
 Wolfdieterich thought of Sigeminne, and turning to Marpilia 
 did his best to convert her to his faith. They spent the 
 whole night talking on these subjects. 
 
 The next morning Beligan came, and invited his guest to join 
 him at breakfast, and after that, in a little game of throwing 
 the dagger, explaining that such was their custom. As soon as 
 breakfast was over, they went into the court, where the king's 
 servants stood round them in a wide circle. The hero laid aside 
 his armour and sword as he was desired,, and received a buckler 
 and three sharp and pointed daggers. The heathen took his 
 stand opposite, armed in like manner. The latter flung the 
 first dagger at his opponent's foot, and he avoided it by spring- 
 ing to one side. 
 
 " By the beard of the Prophet," cried the heathen, " who taught 
 you that? Are you Wolfdieterich, from whom it is foretold 
 that evil shall befall me?" 
 
 Wolfdieterich would not confess to his name, but stood ready
 
 WOLFDIETERICH. 105 
 
 again for the fight. The second dagger scratched his head, 
 carrying off a bit of the scalp ; the third he caught on his 
 buckler. 
 
 It was now the hero's turn to throw. His first dagger pinned 
 the heathen's left foot to the ground ; the second scratched his 
 side ; but the third, which he flung with the cry, " I am Wolf- 
 dieterich ! " struck him to the heart. He was now attacked on 
 all sides, but succeeded in putting his opponents to flight. He 
 then re-entered the castle, put on his armour, took his horse 
 out of the stable, and was about to mount, when he suddenly 
 saw that a wide lake surrounded the castle on every side, and a 
 gale of wind was blowing the great waves so high that there 
 seemed no chance of escape. At the edge of the water stood 
 Marpilia, describing circles in the air and on the ground with 
 a magic wand, and murmuring to herself the while. Riding up 
 to her, he caught her in his arms, and swung her before him on 
 his horse. 
 
 "If I am to drown, witch, you shall not escape," he said. 
 
 With these words he spurred his horse into the wild waves, 
 and saw that the waters stretched out farther and farther, until 
 they seemed a sea. He looked around, and saw that only one 
 chance was left him. He flung the witch-woman off his horse ; 
 instantly the storm ceased, the waters retired, and he was once 
 more on dry land. 
 
 But Marpilia was not drowned. She appeared before him 
 again in all her beauty, stretching out her arms as if to embrace 
 him, but he threatened her with his drawn sword. Then she 
 changed into a magpie, flew to the top of a high rock, and sought 
 from thence to entangle him with new enchantments, each more 
 terrible than the other. At last, thoroughly spent with fatigue, 
 he exclaimed, " Help me, Thou Three in One, or I die." 
 
 Scarcely had he uttered the words when the witch vanished,
 
 106 THE AMELUNGS. 
 
 the sun shone once more upon mount and vale, and before him 
 lay the broad road that led to Lombardy. 
 
 After meeting with many adventures by land and water, he 
 travelled through a wild mountain region, and there he fell in 
 with a giantess, an old friend of his father, who received him 
 very kindly, and told him, amongst other things, of the sad fate 
 of Ortnit and Liebgart. Although her tale diminished his hopes 
 of help, he was yet determined to continue his journey. The 
 giantess said it would take an eternity travelling as he did, 
 horses were so slow ! With that she picked up both horse and 
 rider, and carried them pick-a-back on her broad shoulders three 
 hundred and fifty miles in one day, over mountains, valleys and 
 rivers, and set him down in the fair land of Lombardy. 
 
 THE LINO-WORM. 
 
 It was a beautiful moonlight night when Wolfdieterich reached 
 Garden. He dismounted, and standing under the shadow of an 
 olive-tree, he looked about him. He saw two women walking 
 on the sea-shore. One of them was tall and stately. When 
 she threw back her veil, he nearly uttered a cry of astonishment, 
 she was so like Sigeminne. Had the grave given up its dead, 
 or had some deceitful elf taken the beloved form to lead him 
 into danger ? 
 
 He stood breathless to listen, and heard Queen Liebgart, for 
 it was she, complain to her serving-maid of the manifold 
 sorrows and indignities she had been forced to endure. 
 
 " The cowardly vassals ! " she said. " They have courage 
 enough to frighten a weak woman, but no one dares to do the 
 only thing that I desire on earth to avenge the death of their 
 king on the monster that killed him. And yet I have promised,
 
 WOLFDIETERICH. 107 
 
 although unwillingly, to give my hand to the true knight and 
 hero that will do this thing ! " 
 
 "There is only one man," said the maid, "who could do the 
 deed, and that is the Greek Wolfdieterich, whose fame is spread 
 abroad in every land." 
 
 "The avenger is come, great queen," said the hero, stepping 
 out of the shade where he had stood. " I will venture my life 
 to conquer the dragon." 
 
 The two women started back in alarm. 
 
 " It is Wolfdieterich ! " cried the maid. " He once saved me 
 from a band of robbers." 
 
 " Thanks, noble hero," said Liebgart, " and may Heaven protect 
 you on your quest ! But the monster will take your life as it 
 did my husband's. Nay, go your way in peace, and leave me to 
 my fate." 
 
 But when the Greek showed her that his mind was firm, 
 Liebgart gave him a ring which the dwarf had told her would 
 bring good luck to the wearer, wished him all success, and then 
 returned to Castle Garden. 
 
 Without more delay the hero turned his horse to the moun- 
 tains, and made the best of his way to the lind-worm's hole, 
 which at length he reached. He peeped into the dark cavern, 
 and saw five dragons' heads staring and hissing at him. These 
 were the young " worms " the old one had gone out to seek 
 for food. The hero was about to slay them there and then, but 
 it suddenly occurred to him that it would be better if the old 
 worm knew nothing of his coming, and it would be an easy task 
 to kill the little ones when the mother was dead. So remounting 
 his horse, he set out in search of the monster. As he rode on 
 slowly, he saw a beautiful child standing on a rock. It called to 
 him, 
 
 "You are come to revenge my son Ortnit; beware that you
 
 10 S THE AMELUNGS. 
 
 sleep not, for if you sleep my son will remain unrevenged, and 
 you will fall a prey to the dragon." 
 
 " My good friend," laughed the hero, " you are too young to 
 be a father. I advise you to look out for yourself. You would 
 be a sweeter morsel for the monster than I ! " 
 
 And setting spurs to his horse, he rode away laughing. Like 
 Ortnit, he came first to the high cliffs, and then to the meadow, 
 where clover grass and flowers grew in wonderful profusion. A 
 linden-tree shaded part of it from the heat of the mid-day sun. 
 The hero was tired after his long journey and wakeful night. He 
 stretched himself in the shade to rest, while his horse grazed in 
 the meadow. Fatigue, the fresh sweet air, and the song of the 
 birds in the branches overhead, all combined to make him drowsy, 
 so he gradually fell asleep. 
 
 Perfect peace reigned in the quiet spot. It seemed as though 
 it might last for ever, but suddenly it was broken by a horrible 
 hissing, a crashing of rocks and breaking of trees. The dreadful 
 monster, the terror of the land, was drawing near. At the same 
 moment Alberich exclaimed : 
 
 "Wake, noble hero ; sleep no more ; the lind-worm is upon you." 
 
 The dwarf repeated his warning several times in vain. The 
 faithful horse galloped up to his master, and kicked him, but he 
 did not awake. It was not until the dragon gave utterance to 
 a loud and hideous roar, that made the rocks crack and the 
 mountains tremble, that the hero was at last aroused from his 
 trance. He sprang to his feet and attacked the monster ; but 
 his weapons were all too weak for the work they had to do they 
 broke like reeds on the creature's hide, without doing it any 
 injury.. So he flung the handle of his broken sword in the 
 monster's face, and commended his soul to God, for he was 
 defenceless. The worm caught him up in the coils of its long 
 tail, and at the same moment seized the horse in its great jaws.
 
 WOLFDIETERICH. 109 
 
 Then it bore its victims away to its den, and threw them down 
 as food for its young. After which, it went away again in search 
 of more food. The little dragons tried to devour Wolfdieterich, 
 but could not, he was so well protected by his shirt of palm- 
 silk, so they thrust him aside unconscious, and turned their 
 attention to the horse, which they soon disposed of. 
 
 In the middle of the night Wolfdieterich came to himself, and 
 began to look about him carefully. The moonlight penetrated 
 the cavern, and showed him at a little distance something that 
 shone bright red. He moved towards it cautiously for fear of 
 waking the dragons, and found that the object which had 
 attracted his eye was a huge carbuncle in a sword-hilt. He at 
 once knew that this must be the sword Rosen, and took pos- 
 session of it, as well as of the rest of Ortnit's armour that he 
 found lying uninjured amongst other coats of mail, which however 
 were all more or less broken. With the armour he found a ring. 
 This he put upon his finger. His preparations were no sooner 
 completed than daybreak came, and with it the old lind-worm. 
 He at once attacked her, and, thanks to the magic sword, slew 
 her and all her brood after a hard struggle. Thoroughly ex- 
 hausted, he threw himself under a tree, where he lay panting 
 and breathless. There Alberich found him, and revived him with 
 food and wine. 
 
 Before the victorious hero set out on his return to Garden, he 
 went back into the dragon's den to get the heads of the mon- 
 sters ; but when he had cut them off, he found that they were 
 much too heavy to carry, so he contented himself with taking 
 their tongues. These he put in a leather bag that one of 
 Alberich's dwarfs brought him for the purpose, and then began his 
 journey, which was made longer and more wearisome by having 
 to be done on foot. He often lost his way amongst the wild 
 mountains, and did not reach his destination for many days.
 
 no THE AMELUNGS. 
 
 When he got to Garden, he found the castle full of feasting 
 and mirth. Wondering much, he went to a pious hermit who 
 lived near, and asked him the meaning of what was going on. 
 From him he learnt that the Burgrave Gerhart had slain the 
 lind-worm, and was to be married to beautiful Liebgart that very 
 evening. Wolfdieterich then begged the holy man to lend him 
 priestly garments, and having received those that had formerly 
 belonged to brother Martin, the hermit's predecessor, he put 
 them on over the armour he had found in the dragon's cave, 
 and repaired to the castle. 
 
 He entered the great hall, and saw Burgrave Gerhart, nick- 
 named " Hawk's Nose," seated next to the pale queen, who, with 
 her maidens, filled the glasses of the guests. Above the Bur- 
 grave's chair were the dragons' heads, symbols of his victory 
 When the queen saw the pretended hermit, she took him a cup 
 of wine, which he emptied at a draught, and then gave back, after 
 having slipped into it the ring she had given him on the evening 
 he started on his quest. Liebgart did not notice the ring till 
 she had returned to her seat by Gerhart's side. Then she 
 trembled violently, but forcing down her emotion, she desired 
 the hermit to approach, and tell her from whom he got the ring. 
 
 " Lady, you gave it me yourself," he said, throwing aside his 
 disguise. 
 
 Every eye was fixed on him as he stood in the middle of the 
 hall, clad in Ortnit's wondrous armour, and looking more like a 
 god than a mortal man. When, advancing to the queen, he laid 
 her husband's ring in her hand, and told her how and where he 
 had found it, many voices cried, "Hail to the avenger of our 
 king, the slayer of the dragon and its brood ! Hail to the new 
 king of Lombardy ! " 
 
 Burgrave Gerhart was not to be put aside so easily. He pointed 
 to the dragons' heads as proofs of his right ; but when Wolfdieterich
 
 WOLFDIE TERICH. 
 
 produced the tongues from his wallet, there was no more to be said 
 but for Burgrave Gerhart to beg the hero's pardon. This he 
 received on condition of swearing fealty. 
 
 Wolfdieterich was now proclaimed king of Lombardy, and was 
 told that he was expected to marry the queen. 
 
 " My lords," he said, " as ruler of this kingdom, I am also the 
 servant of my people, and am bound to labour for their welfare. 
 But as regards personal matters, such as the choice of a wife, I 
 must be free, and the queen must also be free to choose as she 
 lists. She is yet mourning the loss of her first husband. But if 
 she holds me worthy to succeed him, and thinks that my love 
 and reverence will comfort her for his loss, I offer her my hand 
 for life." 
 
 Liebgart, remembering what Ortnit had said to her, placed her 
 hand in the hero's, and was married to him before long. 
 
 Wolfdieterich was no longer the impetuous boy who had left 
 Lilienporte, but a man who could act with wisdom, prudence and 
 forethought. He felt that his first duty was to restore peace and 
 quiet to Lombardy, and that only after that was done would he 
 be at liberty to consult his own wishes, and start to the assistance 
 of his faithful servants. A year was spent in this labour, and 
 then he told his wife that he must go to Lilienporte. She wept 
 and said that she feared lest, like Ortnit, he should never return, 
 but in the same breath confessed that he was right, and helped 
 him to make ready for his journey and that of his army, which was 
 to number sixty thousand men. 
 
 THE ELEVEN. 
 
 Winds and waves were in their favour, and the army landed at 
 a short distance from Constantinople. Whilst the men encamped 
 in a wood, the king set out in peasant's clothes to pick up all the
 
 H2 THE AMELUNGS. 
 
 news he could learn. After spending hours wandering about the 
 city, and hearing nothing that was of any use to him, he chanced 
 to meet Ortwin, a gaoler, and a former acquaintance of his. The 
 man carried a basket filled with black bread. The hero went to 
 him and asked him to give him a loaf for Wolfdieterich's sake. 
 The man looked at him keenly, and recognised him. 
 
 "Ah, sire," he said, "things have gone badly here with us. The 
 good old empress died during the siege of Lilienporte. When the 
 fortress capitulated, the noble duke Berchtung and his sons were 
 put in irons and flung into a dark and dismal dungeon. Death 
 soon put an end to the old man's pain, but the ten young lords are 
 still kept in strict confinement, and I may bring them no better 
 food than a daily supply of this black bread and water." 
 
 Wolfdieterich was miserable when he thought that he was not 
 without guilt with respect to his mother and his old friend. He 
 could do nothing for them now, but he might still do something 
 for the ten faithful servants who yet remained. He arranged 
 with Ortwin that they should have better food, and should be 
 cheered by the hope of a speedy deliverance. The old gaoler 
 went on his way, and the king returned to his people. 
 
 He found his men already under arms, for they told him that 
 Sabene had discovered not only that they were there, but what 
 had brought them. 
 
 The armies met, and the battle raged long and furiously, with- 
 out either side getting the better of the other. But at last the 
 fortune of the day turned. The citizens of Constantinople rose in 
 revolt against the tyranny that had ground them down so long, 
 hastened to the prison, and set Berchtung's ten brave sons at 
 liberty. Having done this, they put themselves under their 
 command, and marched to the assistance of Wolfdieterich. It 
 was a glorious victory. The hero was proclaimed emperor on 
 the battle-field.
 
 HUGD1ETERICH AND WOLFDIETERICH. 113 
 
 Soon after their return to the capital, Sabene and the royal 
 brothers were brought before their judges. The first was sentenced 
 to death, and was at once led away to instant execution ; the death 
 of the two latter was likewise demanded by both people and army, 
 and Wolfdieterich knew that they were guilty of causing the death 
 of their mother and that of old Berchtung, and had brought upon 
 him all the troubles and difficulties of his early youth. Yet he 
 could not decide what was best to be done, and reserved judg- 
 ment until the following day. 
 
 That night, as the victor slept the sleep of the just, his mother 
 appeared to him in a dream, saintlike and beautiful in aspect. She 
 said : " Spare my children, and my blessing shall rest on thee." 
 
 And immediately Berchtung appeared at her side : " God 
 has mercy upon His erring children ; do not shed thy brothers' 
 blood." 
 
 As the hero gazed at the apparitions in intense amazement, 
 Liebgart joined them, and said gently : " Hast thou not gained 
 kingdom, glory, and me, through the ill deeds of thy brother* * 
 Return them, therefore, good for evil." 
 
 Morning broke the figures vanished, leaving Wolfdieterich 
 resolved what he should do. He called the nobles together, and 
 before them all pardoned Bogen and Waxmuth, restored them 
 their dignities and lands, to be held thenceforth as great fiefs 
 under him. At first no one approved of his clemency, but on 
 hearing his explanation all were silenced. 
 
 As soon as his arrangements were completed, Wolfdieterich 
 returned with his army to Lombardy, and was welcomed by 
 Liebgart with the greatest joy. After resting there for awhile, he, 
 his princes, and their followers went to Rome, where he was 
 crowned emperor. At the feast which followed the coronation he 
 appointed the ten sons of good Duke Berchtung to be rulers of 
 great fiefs. Herbrand, the eldest, received Garden and its territory. 
 
 H
 
 JI4 THE AMELUNGS. 
 
 Through his son Hildebrand, of whose valiant deeds we shall hear 
 later on, he was the ancestor of the Wiilfings. Hache was given 
 Rhineland, with Breisach as his capital. His son Eckehart was 
 the protector of the Harlungs, Imbreke, and Fritele. He is 
 celebrated in song and story as the trusty Eckehart. Berchther, 
 the third son, succeeded his father at Meran. The other sons were 
 as well endowed, but not as famous as their brothers, so their names 
 and possessions need not be told. 
 
 Wolfdieterich and Liebgart had a son, whom they named 
 Hugdieterich after his grandfather. He grew up to be a mighty 
 hero, and was the father of a valiant race.
 
 KING SAMSON. 
 
 II. 
 KING SAMSON (SAMSING). 
 
 [N the good old times a mighty 
 yarl (earl) ruled over the rich 
 town and district of Salern, 
 which was one of the largest fiefs of a great kingdom. The yarl 
 governed so strictly and justly that peace and plenty cheered the 
 hearts of all that dwelt in the district. He kept up a large army 
 to defend his coasts from the onslaught of the Vikings, who 
 often descended on them in great numbers in hopes of plunder 
 Amongst the followers of the yarl was the warrior Samson, 
 nicknamed " The Black," because of his coal-black hair and beard
 
 n6 THE AMELUNGS. 
 
 He was always the first in battle, and had even been known to 
 disperse whole battalions with his single arm. He was terrible 
 to look upon. His dark eyes flashed under heavy beetling brows. 
 His bull-neck and powerful limbs bore witness to his remarkable 
 strength. No one could withstand him in battle. He hewed men 
 down, whether armed or unarmed, with as great ease as if they 
 were made of touchwood. In private life, on the other hand, he 
 was gentle and kindly, unless contradicted ; then, indeed, he would 
 keep silence, but would none the less carry out his own will, regard- 
 less of the cost to others. As can be readily imagined, few people 
 ventured to oppose him without reason. 
 
 One day the yarl, who had just been made king, was sitting at 
 a feast in celebration of a great victory. His warriors were round 
 him sharing in his joy, Samson in their midst. Suddenly he rose, 
 and, taking a cup of wine in his hand, offered it to the king, and 
 said, with all courtesy : 
 
 " Sire, many a victory have I helped to gain for you, and 
 now I come to offer you this cup and to ask you to grant me 
 a boon." 
 
 " Speak on, brave hero," answered the king, " and tell me what 
 you desire. Hitherto you have asked no reward for your great 
 deeds of valour. What you already have was given of my good 
 will, unasked by you. So demand what you like, I can deny you 
 nothing." 
 
 " Good, my lord," said Samson. " I do not want any more castles 
 or lands, I am rich enough ; but I am very solitary at home, now 
 that my mother has grown old and cross. Your daughter Hildes- 
 wid is a sweet little thing, and I should much like to make her my 
 wife. Now you know how you can pleasure me by granting this 
 request." 
 
 Rodgeier was so astonished at this address that he nearly let 
 the cup fall
 
 KING SAMSON. n 7 
 
 " You are a famous warrior," he said ; " but the maiden is of 
 royal birth, and only a king can lead her home. You are in her 
 service as well as mine. So take this plate of sweetmeats and 
 bear it to her in the women's house. Then come back here, and 
 drown all memory of your strange request in a bowl of good 
 wine." 
 
 Samson took up the sweetmeats silently, and bore them to the 
 princess, who was busy embroidering with her maids. He placed 
 the dish before her, saying, 
 
 " Eat, sweet one, for I bring you good news. You are to follow 
 me to my home, and live there as my good wife. Dress now, and 
 bid one of your maidens come with you." 
 
 On seeing the girl's hesitation, he added, 
 
 " If you do not go willingly, you will force me to kill the yarl, 
 and burn the palace, with all that are in it." 
 
 He looked so fierce and grim as he spoke, that Hildeswid 
 trembled with fear, and obeyed him without a word. 
 
 He took her by the hand and led her down to the court, where 
 a groom was holding his horse in readiness. In the clear light 
 of day, and in the presence of many watchmen, none of whom 
 dared remonstrate, Samson placed the princess before him on 
 the saddle, and rode away with her into the wood and towards 
 his home. When he reached his dwelling the door was locked, 
 and he knocked so thunderously that the sound was heard to a 
 great distance. No answer. He knocked again and again. A 
 hoarse voice at last was heard from within, proclaiming that the 
 door should not be opened whilst the owner of the house was 
 from home. 
 
 " Mother," cried Samson, " pull back the bolts, for it is I 
 your son I have brought you a princess to be your daughter, 
 and to tend you in your old age." 
 
 The door opened, creaking and groaning, as though un-
 
 ,i8 THE AMELUNGS. 
 
 accustomed to move on its hinges, and a thin old woman came 
 out on the threshold, dressed in rags. 
 
 " What ? " she cried. " Do you bring guests with you ? That 
 woman in her grand clothes, her maid, and an idle groom. How 
 could you do it, son? You know how poor we are;" and she 
 looked up at her tall son with a cunning leer. 
 
 " But, mother," said the warrior, " where is the gold I sent you ? 
 Where are the servants I gave you ? And what have you done 
 with the gorgeous raiment I sent to clothe you ? " 
 
 " I hid the gold away in my chest," answered the old woman ; 
 " for one never knows whether one may not become a pauper 
 in one's old age. I dismissed the servants you gave me very 
 soon, for I thought they would have eaten me out of house and 
 home ; and as for the clothes, I have laid them aside to wait for 
 better times." 
 
 " Ah well, mother," said Samson, " if that sort of thing makes 
 you happy, you can do as you like with your own ; but now open 
 the door and let us in. We are tired after our long ride, and 
 would fain have a good dinner." 
 
 They went into the house and sat down. The old woman 
 placed before them a hunch of rye bread and a jar of water. 
 Samson would have made but a poor meal, had his groom not 
 brought out a cut of venison and some wine, with which he had 
 taken care to provide himself before leaving the palace. After 
 he had stilled his hunger, Samson begged his lady's permission to 
 go out and see if he could not find a stag to store the larder. 
 The groom went down to the cellar, where he was fortunate 
 enough to find a cask of ale ; and the old mother withdrew to her 
 own apartments, leaving the princess alone with her maid. 
 
 The wide hall was dark and eerie, and full of strange flickering 
 shadows, that grew more mysterious and ghost-like as the evening 
 closed in, and the owls might be heard hooting in the pine-trees
 
 KING SAMSON. 119 
 
 near. Hildeswid could bear it no longer. She sent her maid 
 to ask the old woman to come back to the hall ; but she did not, 
 nor did the maid return. The poor child's terror was so great 
 that she determined to go in search of her mother-in-law. 
 
 She wandered through one empty, dreary, dusty room after 
 another, till at last she entered a large vaulted chamber, and 
 there she saw the old woman crouching over a great chest full of 
 gold and precious stones, muttering to herself. Approaching her, 
 Hildeswid heard her gloating over her treasures, and saying how 
 much they would be increased when she added the princess's 
 ornaments to the number, which could so easily be done by 
 strangling the girl. Hildeswid uttered a low cry of terror, and 
 the old woman looked round. Then, with a shriek of "thief, 
 robber, wretch ! " she threw herself upon the unhappy child, and 
 tried to throttle her ; but at that moment Samson came in and 
 stopped her. 
 
 " Mother," he said, " you cannot remain here. I will take you 
 and your treasure to my other house on the edge of the wood. 
 There you can live in peace." 
 
 Meanwhile King Rodgeier had discovered that his daughter had 
 been carried off. He sent out one body of his men-at-arms after 
 another to fetch her home ; but they all failed, and he prepared 
 to go himself. 
 
 Riding along towards Samson's grange, he and his men saw a 
 little house by the side of a great wood. They entered, and asked 
 the old woman they met in the house to tell them where Samson 
 lived. She denied that she had ever heard of such a man ; but 
 when the king offered her a handful of gold, she at once pointed 
 out the path that led to his grange, and even went a bit of the 
 way to see that they made no mistake. 
 
 The king and his fifteen companions had not gone very far 
 when they met the hero. His helmet and armour were coal
 
 120 THE AMELUNCS. 
 
 black, like his beard and hair; his steed was also black, but on 
 his shield was emblazoned a lion on a golden field. There was a 
 sharp, short fight in which Samson came off conqueror. 
 
 When the battle was over, he set out for his mother's house. 
 On entering the hall he found her there busily counting the gold 
 the king had given her. 
 
 " Mother," he said, " for the sake of that gold you betrayed your 
 own son, and you richly deserve to die; but as you are my 
 mother, I cannot punish your treachery." 
 
 The old woman went on counting her hoard as calmly as before. 
 
 " Mother," he began again, " you betrayed your son for gold, 
 and you should die by my dagger ; but you are my mother, and 
 I cannot slay you. Now listen to me: take your gold and leave 
 this place, lest harm befall you." 
 
 The old woman poured her treasures into a huge sack, and 
 answered. 
 
 " This should all have been yours, if you had not brought that 
 little fool into the house. I will go, and take my wealth to the 
 king." 
 
 "I have slain him and his men," said Samson quietly; but he 
 looked so stern that his mother changed colour, and muttered, 
 
 " Very well then, I will go and seek an heir who will give both 
 me and my treasures house-room." 
 
 Three times Samson's hand sought sword and dagger, but he 
 mastered his anger, and rode away through the dark pine forest 
 to his home. 
 
 When he got there, he found Hildeswid hard at work with her 
 maidens. 
 
 " Wife," he said, going up to her, " my mother betrayed me for 
 love of gold my sword and dagger both thirsted for her blood 
 but I would not, could not slay her. If you are false to me then 
 they must do their work."
 
 KING SAMSON. 12 r 
 
 He looked terrible in his wrath, but she took off his helmet and 
 coat of mail, kissed him and led him to his seat. And he at once 
 grew gentle, and told her that he wanted to win glory and honour 
 for her sake, and that he hoped soon to see her acknowledged 
 queen of her father's realm. 
 
 When the death of Rodgeier was made known in Salern by the 
 only one of his men who had escaped to tell the tale, a Thing was 
 summoned in order that a new ruler might be chosen. The votes 
 were all in favour of Brunstein, brother of the late king, a man of 
 great wisdom in counsel, and a lover of justice. There would now 
 have been peace in the realm, had it not been for Samson, who 
 made raids into the land and carried off cattle and supplies. So 
 Brunstein called together all the bravest warriors of his own 
 and other lands, and made them lay their hands in his and swear 
 to take Samson alive or dead, or themselves die in the attempt. 
 Then, led by the king, they set out and rode over mountains and 
 plains and through the dark forest, and all without finding the 
 object of their search. One evening they reached a strong for- 
 tress, and being very tired, rested there for the night. After 
 supper they went to bed and slept. Every one slept, even the 
 guards, when they had carefully locked and bolted the great 
 gates. 
 
 That night Samson came. Finding he could not break the 
 gates, he set fire to them, and while they were still burning, 
 pulled them down, and leaped into the place. The watchmen 
 awoke and blew their horns ; but as there were many thatched 
 roofs within the walls, all of which caught fire, the king and 
 his men naturally thought a large army had broken in upon 
 them, and were filled with terror. The gigantic figure of Black 
 Samson appearing now here, now there, amongst the flames, 
 added to their fear, and all that were left of them took refuge 
 in flight.
 
 122 THE A ME LUNGS. 
 
 The king, followed by six faithful attendants, made his way 
 into the forest, and after riding a long time came in sight 
 of a goodly grange. He entered, and found that the mistress 
 of the house was his niece Hildeswid. He asked after Samson, 
 but she said he was out. He then begged her to leave her 
 husband and go with him ; but she refused, advising him to 
 go away as quickly as he could, lest he should fall into his 
 enemy's hands. 
 
 Brunstein confessed that she was right, and took his de- 
 parture, but it was even then too late. Samson had returned, 
 and, seeing them, at once set out in pursuit. No courage or 
 strength, however great, could avail against his terrible arm. 
 Brunstein and five of his warriors fell never to rise again, while 
 the sixth got away with great difficulty and not without severe 
 wounds. Samson started in pursuit. When he got out of 
 the wood, he saw thirty horsemen galloping towards him. On 
 their banner, a lion was displayed on a golden field. 
 
 " So, ho," cried the hero, " you are Amelungs. Welcome, 
 Uncle Dietmar. I rejoice to see you and your men." 
 
 When they had rested and refreshed themselves in Samson's 
 grange, Dietmar explained, that having heard that his nephew 
 was outlawed and in need of help, he had come to visit him 
 and see whether he could be of any use. Samson was much 
 pleased, and announced his intention of taking the open field 
 now that he was no longer alone in the world. So he and 
 his companions set out next morning. No one ventured to 
 oppose him, and he soon had so large a district under his 
 command that he was able to take up the powers and dignity of 
 duke. After that he made his way towards Salern, and sent on 
 messengers to desire the citizens to elect him king, under pain 
 of having their town and possessions burnt about their ears. 
 
 After much conferring together, the burghers came to the
 
 KING SAMSON. 123 
 
 conclusion that they could not do better than obey ; for while 
 Samson had been their friend, their town had been more 
 flourishing than at any other time. So they sent to beg him 
 to come and rule over them. 
 
 When the hero found that all was going as he wished, he 
 sent for his wife, and, side by side, they rode into Salern, where 
 they were received with acclamation. 
 
 The new ruler governed with a strong hand, and administered 
 justice equally to all, both high and low. He showed a grateful 
 remembrance of every kindness he had met with in his adversity, 
 and kept peace on his borders. He grew old in the punctual 
 fulfilment of these duties ; and when he felt that he was no 
 longer strong enough to do the work alone, he appointed his 
 eldest son to be his assistant and successor. But he did not 
 like it to be supposed that he was too old and weak to be 
 of use ; and so when his second son asked him what share he 
 was to have in the royal heritage, he answered him nothing, but 
 called together the whole army and made them an address. 
 
 He told them that when he was young every one had sought 
 to do great deeds, but now people had grown lazy. The long 
 peace, that had brought material blessing on the realm, had 
 also brought the curse of a love of ease and pleasure ; and for 
 fear this evil should increase, and the country become an easy 
 prey to some greedy neighbour, he summoned every warrior 
 to appear before him in three months' time, each accompanied 
 by his men, and bearing a courageous heart within his breast, 
 for he was going to lead them against a powerful foe. 
 
 The same day that Samson made this announcement to his 
 army, he wrote a letter to the proud yarl Elsung of Bern 
 (Verona), a man of about his own age, and with an equal 
 love of great and heroic deeds. In this letter he demanded 
 that Elsung should pay him tribute as his liege lord, and
 
 124 THE AMELUNGS. 
 
 should give his daughter, Odilia, to his second son. All this 
 he demanded as a right, due from a vassal to his king. 
 
 When the yarl read the letter, he was very angry, and made 
 immediate preparations for war. He began by ordering five 
 of Samson's ambassadors to be hung on the spot, and the sixth 
 to be sent back to his master with his tongue cut out. 
 
 No sooner were the three months over than King Samson 
 started for Bern at the head of his men. 
 
 The armies met, and there was a great battle. The slaughter 
 on either side was hideous. At length Samson's wondrous 
 strength enabled him to slay the yarl, and gain the victory. 
 The Bernese, seeing that their ruler was dead, thought it most 
 prudent to choose Samson for their king, and thus put an end 
 to all ill-feeling between the two nations. 
 
 When this business was settled, the victor sent for the yarl's 
 daughter, Odilia, and told her that he intended her to be the 
 wife of his second son, to whom he was going to make over 
 her father's realm. The maiden wept, and said that she could 
 not marry so soon after her father's death ; but Samson's rage 
 at meeting with contradiction was so terrible, that the girl in 
 mortal fear consented to wed the prince. His berserker wrath 
 appeased by her obedience, the king at once regained his usual 
 genial manner, kissed her, and assured her of his protection. 
 
 The marriage arranged, Samson set out on his return to his 
 own land, accompanied by his eldest son. Before he had gone 
 very far, he felt his wounds painful. They would not heal, 
 and caused him so much suffering that he had to halt at a 
 little town on the way, and there he died, naming his youngest 
 son ruler of the Rhineland, with Fritilaburg as his residence.
 
 DIETWART, 
 
 DIETWART DEFENDS THK PRINCESS. 
 
 III. DIETWART. 
 
 THERE was once an emperor of Rome (Romaburg) called 
 Dietwart. His name was known far and wide for his 
 great deeds. At last, wishing to marry, he sent an embassy 
 to King Ladmer of Westenmer to ask for the hand of his 
 daughter. Ladmer professed himself highly honoured that so 
 great an emperor should wish to be allied with his house, 
 and begged that Dietwart would come to Westenmer and see 
 the princess ; that done, the two young people might make 
 up their minds whether they were suited to each other
 
 126 THE AME LUNGS. 
 
 Dietwart consented, and after a stormy passage arrived at 
 his destination, accompanied by a hundred of his bravest 
 warriors. 
 
 Ladmer received his guest with all courtesy, and told him 
 how glad he would be to have him for a son-in-law, but that 
 the choice of a husband lay with the princess herself, for he 
 would never constrain his daughter to marry against her will. 
 
 At the feast given in his honour, Dietwart dressed himself 
 like his men ; but the princess, whose duty it was to offer 
 wine to her father's guests, soon saw which was which, and 
 filled his goblet first. That evening her father asked her what 
 she thought of the stranger, and she replied, 
 
 "He seems to be a great prince, but I do not know his 
 ways ; and until I know that they are pleasant in my eyes, I 
 will not marry him, as I might be very unhappy far away 
 from all I love, in a foreign land." 
 
 Her father kissed her, and told her she must do as she 
 pleased, but in his heart of hearts he hoped she would say 
 " yes." 
 
 A great hunt was arranged for the following day, the object 
 of which was the destruction of a number of stags, for they 
 had grown so numerous that they had done a great deal of 
 mischief in the neighbourhood. 
 
 Now it happened that Princess Minnie was a mighty huntress, 
 so she begged her father to let her join him on that day also, 
 for she loved the sport, and, as he knew, her arrow could reach 
 its goal as surely as that of any man. Dietwart did not much 
 relish seeing her so employed. He thought it was not maid- 
 enly, and confided to his friends that he would rather seek 
 a wife among the daughters of the great princes at home, 
 than wed such a hoyden as the Lady Minnie. But however 
 that might be, it was his duty, and theirs, as men, to see
 
 DIETWART. 127 
 
 that the giddy girl got into no danger through her foolhardi- 
 ness. 
 
 As they were going down a narrow glen, Minnie wounded a 
 splendid stag, and the dogs set out in pursuit; while the prin- 
 cess, drawing another arrow from her quiver, hastened after 
 them. Suddenly the dogs set up a simultaneous howl, and 
 rushed out of the thicket. The ladies of the court shrieked 
 aloud. " The worm," they cried, " the lind-worm ! Come back, 
 Lady Minnie, come back ! " and at the same moment, turning 
 quickly, they fled across the valley, and took refuge on the 
 top of a neighbouring hill. 
 
 A frightful hissing, cracking and trampling was heard, and 
 the dragon crept out of the thicket, its jaws wide open, ready 
 to seize its prey. It was a sight to make the bravest man 
 tremble. Princess Minnie shot three arrows, one after the other, 
 straight at the monster ; but they glanced harmless off its 
 horny scales. She turned to fly, but her foot caught in a 
 branch, and she fell to the ground. She seemed lost, for the 
 dragon was making ready to spring upon her. Dietwart and 
 his men were close at hand. The latter threw themselves on 
 the worm ; while the former took his stand before the girl to 
 defend her. It was a horrible sight. 
 
 Lances, swords, arrows were no defence. They could not 
 pierce the monster's scales, and one brave man after another 
 was caught in its claws, or was torn by its terrible teeth, 
 which in shape resembled the anchors of a ship. Dietwart 
 rushed to the assistance of his friends. He struck at the lind- 
 worm's neck with his lance, but the point slipped from the 
 scales, and the dragon tore his breast with its claws. It 
 opened its great jaws as wide as it could, to seize and devour 
 him ; but the hero thrust the shaft of his spear into its 
 gigantic mouth, and worked it round and round with such force
 
 128 THE AMELUNGS. 
 
 that the point came out at the other side. A stream of poi- 
 son, and flames of fire issued from the creature's nostrils, and 
 the hero fell fainting to the ground, the dying monster on the 
 top of him. 
 
 Dietwart was roused from his insensibility by feeling him- 
 self violently shaken. When he opened his eyes, he saw the 
 princess struggling to free him from the dragon's body. Some 
 woodmen came up and helped her. When at last he rose to 
 his feet, he was so weak that he could not stand ; and the 
 men made a litter of wattled boughs, on which they carried him 
 to the palace. The wound on his chest was carefully bound 
 up, and no one thought much of it, because the flesh alone 
 had been torn ; but it festered badly, and the edges turned 
 black, as though they had been burnt The doctors declared 
 that some of the dragon's poisonous breath had touched it, and 
 they feared for the hero's life. The king, the court, nay the 
 whole country, mourned for the man who had rid them of the 
 monster. 
 
 One morning, as Dietwart lay sunk in a feverish doze after 
 the intense pain of the night, he felt a hand busied about his 
 wound. Strange to say, the hand felt both softer and gentler 
 than that of the doctor. He opened his eyes, and recognised 
 the princess. He watched her carefully remove the bandages, 
 and drop some liquid from a bottle into his burning wound. 
 The pain at once left him. He would have thanked her, but 
 she signed to him to be silent. After she had replaced the 
 bandages, and motioned to the nurses to be still, she went 
 away as gently as she had come. The wounded man felt as 
 free from pain as if an angel had brought him some of the 
 water of life. He fell into a quiet slumber. At night the pain 
 returned, but the next morning Minnie came back, and poured 
 balm into his wound. On the third morning she came again.
 
 DIETWART. 129 
 
 He felt so much stronger, that he could not refrain from seizing 
 her hand and pressing it to his lips. She withdrew it gently, 
 and went away signing to him once more to hold his peace. 
 
 The doctor rejoiced at the rapid recovery of his patient. 
 When told what had happened, he said that the royal maid 
 had received the miraculous balm from her mother on her 
 death-bed, and that she was forbidden to use it except in cases 
 of great necessity, and for those she loved. 
 
 " For those she loved ? " repeated the hero ; and he felt 
 strangely happy. 
 
 When he was well again, he one day met her alone in 
 the garden, and told her of his love. They talked together 
 for a long time; and when good King Ladmer heard of their 
 engagement, he gave them his blessing. The marriage feast 
 was soon afterwards held, and there, in the middle of the table, 
 as one of its greatest ornaments, was one of the dragon's teeth 
 set in silver a nice little tooth it was, weighing at least half 
 a hundred weight. 
 
 The husband and wife set out for Rome. The winds and 
 waves favoured them, and they soon reached Dietwart's native 
 land. The legend informs us that they lived very happily 
 together for four hundred years, and had forty-four children, ol 
 whom one son, Sigeher, alone survived them. But it does not 
 tell us whether the Lady Minnie took kindly to her household 
 duties, or always remained fonder of field sports than of needle- 
 work.
 
 DIETRICH OF BERN. 
 I. DIETRICH AND HILDEBRAND. 
 
 T^VIETMAR, second son of Hugdieterich, ruled with a strong 
 *-^ hand at Bern, and refused to acknowledge his elder 
 brother Ermenrich, or any other king as his suzerain. He was 
 a mighty warrior, and so terrible in battle that few of his 
 enemies dared look him in the face. But at home he was 
 gentle to all, especially to his wife Odilia, daughter of Elsung, 
 or, according to another saga, daughter of a Danish king. His 
 eldest son, Dietrich, was the joy of his heart. At twelve years 
 old the lad had the strength of a mighty warrior. His fair hair 
 fell over his shoulders in heavy curls. His figure was tall and 
 slender, yet strong and well-knit. He had regular features, but 
 when he was angry, he was terrible to look upon. From his 
 earliest childhood any one might see that he would become a 
 lion-hearted hero. It was even said that his breath was like 
 glowing fire when he was angry, and this the people thought 
 an undoubted proof that he was descended from a demon 
 ancestor. 
 
 When Dietrich was five years old, a famous hero came to his 
 father's court. This was Hildebrand, son of Herbrand, and 
 grandson of the faithful Berchtung. As we said before,
 
 DIETRICH AND HILDEBRAND. J 3 i 
 
 Herbrand's fief consisted of the district and castle of Garden. 
 He had brought up his son in the traditional way, so that he 
 grew up to be a perfect warrior, and a wise man. King Dietmar 
 was so pleased with his guest that he appointed him to be his 
 son's teacher and governor. This was the beginning of a friend- 
 ship between master and pupil that lasted till death parted 
 them. 
 
 THE SWORD NAGELRING. 
 
 Now it came to pass that a giant and giantess invaded 
 Dietmar's land ; and slew, burnt, and plundered the people. 
 They were so strong that no one could resist them. The king 
 went against them at the head of an army ; but could not 
 find them. He saw everywhere on his borders the desolation 
 they had caused ; but none could tell him where they were con- 
 cealed. At this ill-success young Dietrich and his master were 
 as much distressed as the king himself. They determined to 
 search for the giants till they found them, though the search 
 should cost them years. 
 
 They wandered over mountains and valleys seeking the 
 monsters, but seeing nothing of them. One day they set out to 
 hunt with their hawks and hounds, and came to a great forest, 
 in the middle of which was a green meadow, where they 
 thought they should find plenty of game. They uncoupled the 
 hounds, and rode, one to the left and the other to the right 
 of the meadow, holding their weapons in readiness. As Dietrich 
 slowly advanced, keeping a sharp look out, a dwarf crossed his 
 path. Stooping from his horse, he caught up the mannikin 
 and placed him in front of him. The little prisoner made so 
 loud a moan, that Hildebrand heard him, and galloped across 
 the meadow to see what was the matter. Catching sight of 
 the dwarf,
 
 32 DIETRICH OF BERN. 
 
 11 Hillo ! " he cried. " Hold the rascal tight. He knows all 
 roads, both on, and under the earth. He is Elbegast, the 
 prince of thieves, and is certain to be a friend of the robbers." 
 
 The dwarf shrieked louder than before, and declared that far 
 from being their friend, he had suffered much wrong at the hands 
 of the giant Grim and his sister Hilde, that he had even been 
 obliged to forge for them the good sword Nagelring, and the 
 strong helmet Hildegrim, and had been forced to lead them to 
 their victims by hidden ways known only to himself. He swore 
 to help the warriors if they wished to fight the unholy pair. 
 
 The mannikin was therefore set at liberty. He drew a long 
 breath, and said : 
 
 " You could not catch me now, if I wished to escape you ; 
 but I will serve you faithfully, that I may be freed from the 
 power of the giants. Come back to this place at day-break 
 to-morrow, and I will give you the sword Nagelring, without 
 which you cannot conquer the monster. I shall steal it from 
 him as truly as I am Elbegast, the prince of thieves. Then I 
 will show you his foot-marks in the dewy grass, that you may 
 track him to his hollow mountain, where, if you slay him and 
 his wicked sister, you will find rich booty to reward you." 
 
 The dwarf had no sooner uttered these words than he vanished. 
 The next morning, before daylight, the prince and his companion 
 came to the edge of the green meadow talking of this and 
 that. They agreed that the word of a mountain goblin was 
 not to be trusted, and that thievish Elbegast would probably 
 be false like all his kindred. Their conversation was interrupted 
 by a strange clanking sound, and at the same moment they 
 noticed the rosy dawn overspreading the sky. They started to 
 their feet, and looked about. Elbegast came up to them drag- 
 ging a huge sword. Dietrich seized it with a cry of joy, un- 
 sheathed it and swung it in the air.
 
 DIETRICH AND H1LDEBRAND. 133 
 
 " Now," cried Elbegast, " you have the strength of twelve 
 men, and can fight the monster on equal terms. Look carefully 
 and you will see the marks of his shoes distinctly printed on 
 the dewy grass. I had to make his shoes of iron for he is 
 miserly, and said that leather was too dear. Follow the tracks, 
 and they will lead you to the entrance of his cave. I can go 
 with you no farther." 
 
 He vanished, and the heroes followed the giant's tracks in 
 obedience to the dwarf's advice. 
 
 At length they reached a great cliff, but there was no open- 
 ing to be seen large enough to serve as a door. A few cracks 
 might be noticed here and there in the stone, so small that only 
 a dwarf or a lizard could have crept in ; certainly not a man in 
 armour, and still less a giant. Hildebrand thought that a bit 
 of the rock might perhaps be fitted into the cliff instead of a 
 door. He tried to shake and loosen any projecting piece of the 
 cliff that he could clutch. His efforts were not in vain. An 
 enormous block of stone stirred and rocked beneath his hands, 
 and just as Dietrich came to his assistance, it fell thundering 
 into the valley below. The sunlight penetrated the darkness of 
 a deep cavern, in the background of which a great fire was 
 burning. Grim was lying on a bed of bear and wolf skins 
 close to the flames. Wakened by the falling rock, he raised 
 himself on his elbow, and perceiving the warriors' approach, 
 looked about for his sword ; not finding it, he snatched up a 
 burning log, and rushed upon Dietrich. His blows sounded 
 like claps of thunder, and fell as thick as hail ; it was only 
 the young warrior's nimbleness that saved his life, which was 
 endangered not only by the force of the blows, but by the 
 smoke and the burning sparks that flew from the log. Hilde- 
 brand would have gone to his pupil's assistance had not the latter 
 forbidden him. And indeed he soon had enough to do to
 
 134 DIETRICH OF BERN. 
 
 defend himself, for the giantess now appeared, and catching 
 Hildebrand up in her arms, held him tight. It was a deadly 
 embrace. The warrior could not breathe. He struggled in vain 
 to free himself from the sinewy arms that held him. At last 
 the giantess threw him on his back, pressing his hands and 
 arms as though in a vice, and making the blood spirt from 
 under his nails. She looked about for a rope with which to 
 bind and hang him. Hildebrand called to his companion to 
 help him in his need. Dietrich seeing his friend's danger leaped 
 over the giant's weapon with a despairing spring, and at the 
 same time seizing his sword in both hands, split the monster's 
 head from the crown to the collar-bone. Then turning upon 
 the giantess, he slew her after a short but sharp engagement. 
 
 Hildebrand now staggered to his feet, and said that from 
 henceforth he would regard his former pupil as his master, be- 
 cause that woman had been harder to deal with than any foe 
 he had ever met before. Dietrich and Hildebrand took the 
 treasure they found hidden away in a side cave, as their meed 
 of victory, and brought it home to Bern. 
 
 King Dietmar rejoiced in the glory of his heroic son, 
 whose name had become famous in every land ; but he did 
 not live long after these events. He died loved and honoured 
 by all. When Dietrich ascended the throne, he gave his young 
 brother Diether into Hildebrand's charge, begging his friend to 
 teach the boy to be a hero and a worthy scion of his noble 
 race. 
 
 And Hildebrand did his best, with the help of his wife, the 
 good high-souled Ute (Uote), whom he married soon after. To- 
 gether they taught the boy to love what was good and true, 
 to be brave, and to be not only an admirer but a doer of high 
 deeds.
 
 DIETRICH AND HILDEBRAND. 135 
 
 SlGENOT. 
 
 Soon after Grim and Hilde had fallen under Dietrich's sword, 
 their nephew, strong Sigenot, a giant who lived in the Western 
 Mountains, came down into the forest to visit his relations. 
 When he discovered their dead bodies in the cave, he howled 
 with rage and swore to avenge their death. A dwarf for whom 
 he called told him of the fight between his uncle and aunt and 
 the heroes, but Sigenot would not believe the story. He thought 
 that Grim and Hilde had been murdered in their sleep by 
 Dietrich and his comrade for the sake of their hoard. 
 
 Years passed on. One evening the heroes were seated to- 
 gether in the great hall of the palace, drinking their wine and 
 talking. 
 
 " Master," said King Dietrich, " I never saw a living wife 
 embrace her husband so passionately as Hilde did you that 
 day in the cave. I think the Lady Ute would be angry if she 
 heard how the giantess hugged you." 
 
 "What a monster she was," answered Hildebrand with a 
 shudder, "and you freed me from her clutches." 
 
 "Yes," said the king, laughing, "it showed my generosity. 
 I returned you good for evil that time, for you know I might 
 have remembered how many thrashings and floggings you had 
 given me when a boy. Now, confess, was I not generous ? " 
 
 " I am quite willing to do so," replied Hildebrand with a 
 smile, and then added gravely ; " but do not pride yourself too 
 much on the past, for the giant Sigenot has long been watch- 
 ing for us in the mountains, that he may fall upon us and 
 avenge his uncle Grim's death. From what I hoar, he is so 
 strong that no mortal man can withstand him, and even an 
 army would fall before him like corn under the sickle." 
 
 " Hey ! what new story is this ? " cried the king. " So Grim's
 
 136 DIETRICH OF BERN. 
 
 avenger is lying in wait in the mountains ? Why did no one 
 tell me before? I will start to-morrow in search of him, and 
 free my realm from the monster." 
 
 "What!" cried one of the guests. 
 
 " Are you going to attack the giant ? " asked another. 
 
 " The murderous Sigenot ! " added a third. 
 
 " Listen to me, Dietrich, my pupil," said Hildebrand solemnly, 
 "he is not heroic, but foolhardy, who undertakes to do the 
 impossible, and it is impossible to conquer that giant." 
 
 " Listen, dear master," answered Dietrich ; " do you remember 
 how you taught me that he is a hero who undertakes what is 
 apparently impossible, because he trusts in his strength, and in 
 the justice of his cause ? He is a hero, whether he gains the 
 crown of victory or meets with death. My cause is just, be- 
 cause I go forth to free my realm and my people from the 
 power of the monster." 
 
 " Sire," cried Hildebrand, " you are no longer my pupil, but 
 my comrade, and as your comrade I will accompany you to the 
 great battle." 
 
 The king answered after a short pause, " My master used to 
 say, ' One against one is the way of true warriors ; two against 
 one is the way of cowards' so I must go alone." 
 
 " If you do not return in eight days," returned the master, " I 
 will follow you, and be your liberator, or your avenger, or your 
 companion in death." 
 
 "Why make so much ado?" cried Wolf hart ; "the king will 
 strike old Long-legs dead, or else uncle Hildebrand will do it, and 
 if they both should fail, I will follow them, and I wager my head 
 that I will lead him like a captive bear by a rope to the castle 
 here, and then hang him over the battlements, where he may 
 stay till his gossips in hell come to fetch him home." 
 
 Dietrich then set out on his journey. On the evening of the
 
 DIETRICH CHASING THE ELK. 
 
 138
 
 DIETRICH AND HILDEBRAND. 139 
 
 third day he came in sight of the Mountains. He felt so cheery 
 and so strong that he would not have feared to offer battle to 
 all the giants in the world. As he was lying on the grass, sunk 
 in happy reverie, he saw a stately elk, sprang on his horse, and 
 followed it until he came up with it, when drawing his sword he 
 stabbed it in the neck, so that it fell dead. He lighted a fire, 
 roasted a bit of the elk for his supper, and ate it, washing it down 
 with some cups of wine he drew from the skin at his saddle bow. 
 
 A cry of agony disturbed him in the midst of his enjoyment. 
 He looked up, and saw a naked giant covered from head to foot 
 with bristly hair, who was holding a dwarf firmly bound to the 
 end of his iron club. The mannikin shrieked to the warrior for 
 help, affirming that the monster was about to eat him alive. 
 Dietrich at once advanced towards the wild man, and offered him 
 a fair exchange. He said he might have the elk instead of the 
 dwarf, and that he would find it a larger and juicier mouthful. 
 
 " Get out of the way, you dog," bellowed the giant. " Get out 
 of the way, or I will roast you at your own fire, and eat you up, 
 armour and all." 
 
 The hero's anger was stirred at this address, and he drew 
 Nagelring from its sheath, while the giant swept the dwarf from 
 off his club as easily as a snowflake. Then the battle began, 
 and raged until both combatants were so weary that they had 
 to rest awhile. The king again offered to make peace with the 
 monster, because he had come out to fight with the master and 
 not with the servant. A shout of scornful laughter was the 
 answer he received, and then the giant cried in a mighty voice 
 that made the trees tremble to their roots, " Do you think that 
 a little smidget like you could conquer Sigenot ? He would bind 
 you to a stake as easily as I should that dwarf, and would leave 
 you to die in agony." 
 
 And now the fray was renewed. The dwarf, who had freed
 
 140 DIETRICH OF BERN. 
 
 himself from his bonds, kept well behind Dietrich, and advised 
 him what to do. 
 
 " Hit him over the ear with the hilt of your sword, the blade 
 is of no use with him." 
 
 Dietrich did as he was advised, and the monster fell with a 
 crash beneath his blow. The sword-hilt had penetrated deep into 
 his skull ; a second and a third blow put an end to him. 
 
 " Now quick, let us away," cried the dwarf, " before Sigenot, 
 king of the Mountains, comes down upon us. Should he find 
 us here, we are lost." 
 
 Proud of his victory, Dietrich explained the object of his quest. 
 
 "Noble hero," said the mannikin, "you cannot escape your fate. 
 If by a miracle you are victorious, we poor dwarfs will be freed 
 from an intolerable tyranny, in gratitude for which boon we will 
 be your faithful friends as long as you live. Our father, Alberich, 
 left the rule over thousands of our people in equal portions to me, 
 his eldest son, Waldung, and to Egerich, his younger son. But 
 in spite of our caps of darkness, and all our magic arts, Sigenot 
 has enslaved us, and holds us now in such vile bondage that many 
 die of hardships, and many more are devoured by him." 
 
 " Well," said Dietrich, " show your gratitude by pointing out 
 the way to Sigenot." 
 
 The dwarf showed the hero the snow-topped mountain where 
 his enemy lived, drew the cap of darkness over his head, and 
 disappeared. 
 
 Dietrich set out, and about mid-day arrived at the regions of 
 ice and snow. Long grey moss hung pendant from the branches 
 of the pines, and covered the stems to the root. A thick mist 
 suddenly rose, and hid the mountain. All at once the mist 
 parted like a curtain, and Dietrich saw a beautiful woman in 
 snow-white garments, a diadem of precious stones on her head, 
 and round her throat a necklace that shone like the stars. She
 
 DIETRICH AND HILDEBRAND. 141 
 
 raised her finger warningly, and said, " Ride back, hero of Bern, 
 or you are lost. The destroyer is lying in ambush for you." 
 
 She glided past with inaudible steps, and vanished among the 
 glaciers, leaving Dietrich lost in astonishment, and wondering 
 whether it were the goddess Freya, or the elf-queen Virginal that 
 he had seen. 
 
 He was startled out of his reverie by a shout, and at the same 
 moment perceived the gigantic warrior hastening to meet him. 
 
 " So you have come at last," he cried, " to give me an oppor- 
 tunity of revenging the murder of Grim and Hilde." 
 
 They began to fight without more ado. As Dietrich tried to 
 make use of what he thought a favourable chance, the blade of 
 his sword Nagelring was caught in an overhanging bough. All 
 his efforts to withdraw it were in vain. At last the steel broke, 
 and at the same moment a blow of the giant's club stretched the 
 hero senseless on the ground. His helmet was unhurt, but the 
 blow had been so heavy that it left him unconscious. The giant 
 now fell upon him, kneaded his defenceless body both with his 
 hands and his knees, and then dragged him away into his 
 dismal den. 
 
 Master Hildebrand waited for eight days with great impatience ; 
 then, finding that the king did not return, he took leave of his 
 wife, and set forth in search of him. 
 
 In the wood near the snow-capped mountain Hildebrand found 
 the king's horse, and further on the broken sword. He could no 
 longer doubt what his friend's fate had been. Vengeance, not 
 deliverance, was now alone what he hoped for, and he rode on 
 unheeding the warning that the little dwarf Waldung called after 
 
 him. 
 
 On perceiving the new comer the giant rushed upon him. The 
 battle between them was long and fierce, and Sigenot disdained 
 no weapon of defence. He tore up bushes and eve^ trees, and
 
 I 4 2 DIETRICH OF BERN. 
 
 threw them at the hero. When Hildebrand at last tried to defend 
 himself by a ruse, the club came down upon his head, and struck 
 him senseless to the ground. "Come on, long beard," shouted 
 Sigenot, " Hilde and Grim are avenged at last." 
 
 So saying, he bound the fallen warrior hand and foot, and 
 seizing him by the head, flung him over his shoulder, and bore 
 him to his cave, singing loudly the while. 
 
 The giant's dwelling was large and lofty. The roof was sup- 
 ported by stone pillars, and a carbuncle in the centre shed a 
 pleasant light over the foreground, while the back of the cavern 
 was dark and gloomy in the extreme. On entering, the giant 
 threw down his burden with such force that Hildebrand thought 
 every bone in his body was broken. Sigenot then went to a side 
 cave to fetch an iron chain with which to bind his prisoner, saying 
 that he would not be long away. 
 
 When a weak man is in sore straits, he at once gives himself 
 up for lost. Not so the hero. He never abandons hope until he 
 has tried every mode of rescue, however poor. It was thus with 
 Hildebrand. Looking round him, he perceived his good sword, 
 which the giant had seized as rightful booty, lying in a distant 
 corner, and he thought that he might yet fight and gain the 
 victory, if he could only cut the cords that bound his wrists. He 
 was fastened to a square pillar with sharp corners. He sawed 
 the cords on his wrists against the pillar, and cut them through. 
 No sooner were his hands free, than he undid the ropes and cords 
 about his feet, and snatching up his sword, hid behind the pillar, 
 which he intended to use as a protection, his shield having been 
 left in the wood. 
 
 Sigenot returned with the chains, and looked about in astonish- 
 ment. His prisoner was gone. Suddenly he caught sight of him 
 behind a pillar, and the battle raged anew. The ground trembled 
 beneath the giant's tread, and the rocks re-echoed the sound of
 
 DIETRICH AND HILDEBRAND. 143 
 
 blows. The combatants were now fighting in the dark background 
 of the cave, led there by the gradual retreat of Hildebrand, when 
 suddenly the hero heard his name called from the depths beyond. 
 He recognised the king's voice, and the knowledge that his friend 
 yet lived gave added strength to his arm. A few minutes more, 
 and the giant was stretched at his feet. 
 
 The victory was won. He cut off the monster's head, and 
 whilst resting for a moment after his exertion, he heard Diet- 
 rich's voice exclaiming : 
 
 " Hildebrand, dear master, help me out of the serpent's hole. 
 There are still some adders here, alive, though I have slain and 
 eaten many more." 
 
 Finding that the king was confined in a deep hole, Hilde- 
 brand looked round for a rope or a ladder, with which to help 
 him out. Whilst engaged in this search, he was joined by the 
 dwarf Waldung, who gave him a ladder of ropes, by means of 
 which the king was restored to the light of day. 
 
 " Hildebrand," said Dietrich, taking a long breath of the fresh 
 pure air, " you are not my comrade, but my master." 
 
 After this, the heroes followed the dwarf into his subterranean 
 kingdom, where he provided them with food and drink, and 
 offered them costly treasures. The noblest gift that Dietrich 
 accepted was his sword Nagelring mended, hardened, and newly 
 adorned with gold and precious stones, so that it was more 
 beautiful as well as stronger than before. 
 
 The heroes now returned to Bern, where they were received 
 with great joy. 
 
 QUEEN VIRGINAL. 
 
 Once when Dietrich and Hildebrand were hunting in the wild 
 mountains of Tyrol, the king confessed that he had never been
 
 144 DIETRICH OF BERN. 
 
 able to forget Queen Virginal, who had come out to warn him 
 of Sigenot's approach. 
 
 "You would find it as easy to gain the love of a star as to 
 wile Queen Virginal away from her glaciers and snow moun- 
 tains," said Hildebrand. 
 
 While the heroes were thus talking together, a tiny little 
 mannikin dressed in full armour suddenly stood before them. 
 
 " Noble warriors," he said, " you must know that I am Bibung, 
 the unconquerable protector of Queen Virginal, ruler of all the 
 dwarfs and giants in these mountains. With my help she 
 chased thievish Elbegast away from her dominions ; but the 
 wretch has now invaded her realm with the help of the 
 magician Ortgis, his giants and his lind-worms. He has forced 
 her by his black art to pay him a shameful tribute. He obliges 
 her every full moon to give him one of her beautiful maidens, 
 whom he then imprisons, fattens, and eats for his dinner. So 
 Jeraspunt, her palace, is filled with weeping and mourning. My 
 lady, hearing that you conquered the dread Sigenot, entreats you 
 to come to her aid ; therefore hasten to Jeraspunt and rescue 
 our great queen." 
 
 The heroes consented, and asked to be shown the way. The 
 dwarf guided them till they came within sight of a wondrous 
 building shining on the heights in the light of the evening sun. 
 Hildebrand broke the silence that had fallen on them by exclaim- 
 ing, " Truly if the lady Ute were not my wife, I should be 
 inclined to try my luck with Queen Virginal ; but as things 
 are, I will do my best to help you to win her. Well, Bibung ! 
 why, where in the world has the rascal got to ? " 
 
 "The unconquerable protector of the queen has a wholesome 
 terror of Ortgis," laughed Dietrich. " But now let us on to the 
 palace." 
 
 " Night is the time for witches to journey, not honest
 
 DIETRICH AND HILDEBRAND. 145 
 
 men," said Hildebrand, " so let us stretch ourselves on the soft 
 moss, and rest until morning." 
 
 The next morning was dull and misty, and a snow storm 
 beat in the faces of the warriors as they climbed the steep moun- 
 tain on foot, by a road impassable for horses. On and on they 
 went, a weary way. As they stopped to slake their thirst at 
 a spring, they heard a woman's voice shrieking for help. A 
 girl rushed up to them and entreated their aid against terrible 
 Ortgis, to whom she had been delivered according to the treaty, 
 and who was now hunting her down with his dogs. At the same 
 moment the holloa of the huntsman was heard, and in another 
 the battle of the heroes with Ortgis and his followers had begun. 
 Gigantic as were Ortgis and his train, they soon fell under the 
 swords of the heroes. One man alone escaped, but he was the 
 worst of the whole crew, for he was Janibas, son of Ortgis, and 
 a great magician like his father. 
 
 Dietrich and Hildebrand determined to take shelter in the 
 castle of Ortgis which was nigh at hand. When they knocked 
 at the door several armed giants rushed out upon them, but at 
 length they too were conquered. A horseman in black armour 
 had kept behind the rest during the battle. He murmured 
 something in a strange language, and obedient to his voice, new 
 giants arose out of the earth, to take the place of the slain ; 
 still the heroes were victorious. The black horseman continued 
 to murmur, and horrible lind-worms crept out of the ground, 
 and with them Dietrich and Hildebrand had to fight all night 
 long. The black horseman disappeared at last, when the first 
 rays of the rising sun lighted up the castle in the valley. At 
 the same moment the heroes saw an enormous old lind-worm 
 crawling away with an armed man in its jaws. It wanted to 
 creep away unnoticed, but the warriors immediately attacked it. 
 The dragon let its victim fall, and hurled itself, hissing, upon 
 
 K
 
 146 DIETRICH OF BERN. 
 
 Dietrich who stood nearest. With one claw it tore away his 
 shield and ripped up his coat of mail ; at the same time it 
 caught up Hildebrand with its tail and flung him to a great 
 distance. But Dietrich thrust his sword right through its jaws, 
 and so deep into a neighbouring tree, that the creature was 
 pinned down, and died a few minutes after, roaring like thunder. 
 
 The maiden they had saved from Ortgis had watched the 
 combat from afar. She now approached and bound up Dietrich's 
 wounds, pouring in a healing balm. Meanwhile, Hildebrand had 
 picked up the man the dragon had let fall, and recognised him 
 as Ruotwin, the son of Helfrich of Tuscany, who was his mother's 
 brother. 
 
 Ruotwin joined the other two, and promised to help them to 
 punish the wizard Janibas. Further help appeared in the per- 
 son of Helfrich. The whole party now moved on towards the 
 magician's castle, the gates of which stood open. The court was 
 full of armed men, amongst whom was Janibas in black armour, 
 riding on a coal black steed. He murmured magic words, and 
 lions rushed out on the heroes. These great beasts were slain, 
 and so were the men-at-arms who followed them. Janibas alone 
 escaped. 
 
 Dietrich and his followers entered the castle, where they found 
 three of the queen's maidens cooped up for fattening, and set 
 them free. After which, they burnt the magician's fortress, that 
 it might not serve as a refuge to Janibas if he returned to that 
 part of the country. 
 
 The whole party then started for Aron, the castle of Helfrich, 
 where the heroes were to rest before continuing their journey 
 to the palace of Queen Virginal. A short respite from their toil 
 was the more necessary, as Dietrich's wounds were very painful ; 
 but their hostess's good nursing had soon the happiest effect in 
 subduing the fever, and healing the wounds. At last the day
 
 DIETRICH AND HILDEBRAND. 147 
 
 was fixed for their departure, and Helfrich had settled to go 
 with them, and lead them to Jeraspunt. While they were making 
 their final arrangements, a dwarf galloped up to the door, and 
 throwing himself from his horse, entered the hall, his mantle 
 torn and dusty, and his countenance as pale as death. 
 
 " Help, noble heroes, help ! " he cried. " Janibas has come 
 against Queen Virginal in battle array. He has ordered her to 
 deliver all her maidens up to him, and also the carbuncle in 
 her coronet. If he gets that into his power, no one can with- 
 stand him, for it would give him complete command over all 
 the mountains, and over all the giants, dwarfs and lind-worms 
 that inhabit them. Woe to them, if they fall into his hands." 
 
 Dietrich at once declared his readiness to go alone to the 
 queen's help, if the others were not prepared to start on the 
 instant. 
 
 " What, alone ! " cried the dwarf. " If you go alone you are 
 a dead man. Even I, her majesty's special defender, had to 
 turn my back, and fly before the foe ; what then would become 
 of you ? " 
 
 Nobody could help laughing at the mannikin's conceit ; but 
 there was no time to lose, and all the warriors hastened to arm 
 and start for the palace. 
 
 The heroes and their friends had a long and hard pull up the 
 mountain side, over snow fields and glaciers, in the midst of 
 which great crevasses yawned in unexpected places, but they were 
 cheered on their way by catching from every height a glimpse 
 of Jeraspunt. At length they came so near that they heard 
 shrieks and howls, and other sounds of battle. A few minutes 
 later the terrible scene was visible. Some of the palace guard 
 were killed and mangled, others were yet defending themselves 
 Gigantic dogs, monsters of every sort, and hordes of savage 
 warriors formed the enemy's ranks. Many had forced their way
 
 , 4 8 DIETRICH OF BERN. 
 
 through the broken gate, and were raging, storming, and howl- 
 ing round the queen's throne. 
 
 The sovereign lady sat there unmoved, surrounded by her 
 trembling maidens ; a carbuncle glowed in the diadem that 
 graced her head, and a silver veil was wrapt about her. Her 
 only protection seemed to be a magic circle that her assailants 
 could not pass. Whether the magic lay in her wonderful beauty 
 or in the spiritual love that shone in her face, it were impossible 
 to say. No one had yet dared to approach her. Even the 
 heroes halted for a moment on first seeing her, but then re- 
 covering themselves, pressed forward. 
 
 They made their way in spite of clouds of snow, and lumps 
 of ice, to say nothing of a frightful hurricane that almost blew 
 them away. The mountains trembled under repeated thunder 
 claps, and a bottomless crevasse divided them from the palace. 
 But at the same moment Dietrich perceived the black horseman 
 reading his magic spells from an iron tablet. He sprang upon 
 him, broke the tablet, and slew the magician. A great clap of 
 thunder rolled over the mountains, avalanches fell, ice fields 
 broke up, and then came a silence as of death. The spell was 
 broken, the yawning gulf closed, and the way to the palace was 
 free. The magician's followers, eager to avenge their master, 
 attacked the heroes and their men, but their efforts were vain. 
 The monsters, who yet lived, had soon to fly and seek refuge 
 in the solitudes of the snow mountains. 
 
 Dietrich now approached the queen at the head of his fol- 
 lowers. He would have knelt before her, but she rose from 
 her throne, and offering him her hand, greeted him with a kiss. 
 Unable to utter a word, he let her lead him to the throne, and 
 seated himself at her side. 
 
 " Know, great hero," she said, " that I have seen your love 
 and your deeds. I give up my rule in Elf-land, and will go
 
 DIETRICH ESPIES QUEEN VIRGINAL,
 
 DIETRICH AND HILDEBRAND. 151 
 
 home with you, and live amongst mortal men till death parts 
 us." 
 
 The palace was cleansed by invisible hands ; the gate, and all 
 the broken posts and pillars were mended during the night, and 
 the marriage of the mortal hero with the elf-queen was solemnized 
 soon after. The husband and wife then started for Bern, where 
 Virginal made his home so delightful that it was long before 
 Dietrich thought of seeking more adventures. Meanwhile there 
 was sorrow in the mountains, and in the heart of every elf that 
 lived there. The queen had left her country and her people 
 for the sake of a mortal. All nature mourned her absence, the 
 Funsets had no longer the prismatic hues of former times, and 
 the fairy palace was invisible to all.
 
 152 
 
 DIETRICH OF BERN. 
 
 WIELAND, THE SMITH, ARMING 
 HIS SON WITTICH. 
 
 II. 
 
 DIETRICH'S COMRADES. 
 
 HEIME. 
 
 N all countries and amongst all 
 nations were spread the name 
 and fame of Dietrich of Bern, 
 for he was the favourite hero 
 of many a wandering minstrel, and so it came to pass that 
 numbers of brave warriors used to go and visit him, and take 
 part in the amusements or serious occupations that engrossed 
 the attention of their host during the time of their visit.
 
 DIETRICH'S COMRADES. 153 
 
 Even in the far north his name was famous, not only in the 
 Castle of the noble, but in many a wayside inn and solitary 
 grange. 
 
 At the time of which we speak, a renowned horse-dealer called 
 Studas lived in the heart of a great forest. He cared little for 
 the singing and fiddling of the wandering minstrels, but his 
 son Heime was different. He often declared that he knew he 
 could wield lance and sword as well as the hero of Bern. His 
 father was weary of his vainglorious talk, and one day, when 
 the young fellow was boasting as usual that he was as good a 
 man as Dietrich, if not better, his father exclaimed in a pet : 
 
 "Well, if that be the case, go up to the hollow mountain, and 
 kill the dragon that is doing all this mischief in the neighbour- 
 hood." 
 
 The lad looked up at him inquiringly. The father nodded, 
 and Heime, casting a haughty look at him, turned and went 
 out. 
 
 " He will not do it," muttered the old man, " but I think I 
 have cooled his hot blood for him." 
 
 Things were going otherwise than honest Studas dreamed in 
 his philosophy. His bold son armed himself, and mounting one 
 of his father's best horses, rode off to the mountain. The lind- 
 worm sprang at him with open jaws, but the lad plunged his 
 spear into his mouth with such force that the point came out 
 behind his head. The monster lashed the ground long and 
 furiously with his tail, but at length fell dead. Whereupon 
 Heime cut off his head, and riding home, took it into the grange, 
 and flung the trophy at his father's feet. 
 
 "St. Kilian!" cried Studas. " Boy, have you really killed the 
 dragon? Well ." 
 
 "Well," answered the bold youth, "I shall now go and slay 
 the hero of Bern. Give me the horse that carried me so bravely
 
 154 DIETRICH OF BERN. 
 
 to-day. He will take me to Bern, and bring me home again 
 without hurt." 
 
 The old man felt his head go round when he heard his son 
 speak in such a way; but he granted the lad's request, and 
 Heime rode out into the unknown world. 
 
 In the royal palace of Bern Queen Virginal was busy filling 
 the goblets of the warriors, who feasted with her husband, and 
 who agreed that great as were the blessings of peace, it was high 
 time they should be up and doing something, lest their swords 
 should rust in their scabbards. In the midst of this conversation 
 the door opened, and a stranger entered in full armour. He was 
 a tall broad-shouldered man, and apparently young. 
 
 Hildebrand welcomed him, and invited him to take off his 
 coat-of-mail, telling him that purple and silken garments were 
 more suited to a royal feast than the panoply of war. 
 
 " My trade is war," said the stranger, " I am Heime, son of the 
 horse-dealer Studas, and have come to challenge the famous 
 Dietrich to come out with me into the open field, and try which 
 of us is the better man." 
 
 He spoke so loud that every one heard, and Dietrich at once 
 accepted his challenge, calling upon his guests to come out and 
 watch the fray. The king then put on his armour, mounted his 
 good horse, Falcon, and in another moment was ready for the 
 combat. 
 
 They fought for some time on horseback, but at length the 
 shafts of their spears being broken in the melee, they sprang to 
 the ground, and continued the combat on foot. Again a little 
 time, and after Heime had performed wonderful feats of valour, 
 his sword broke, and he stood defenceless before the angry king 
 Dietrich swung his sword above his head preparatory to givini 
 his opponent the death-blow, but he had not the heart to do it. 
 He had compassion on the youth and courage of the bold warrior,
 
 DIETRICH'S COMRADES. 
 
 157 
 
 who stood so fearless before him. Letting his sword fall to his 
 side, the king offered his hand to Heime in sign of peace. This 
 generosity conquered the lad completely. He took the offered 
 hand, said that he confessed himself overcome, and swore that 
 henceforth he would be a faithful servant and follower of the 
 glorious king. Dietrich was pleased to number a man like 
 Heime among his followers, and presented him with castles and 
 rich lands 
 
 WlTTICH. 
 
 Wittich was the son of Wieland, the smith of Heligoland, by 
 Boswilde (Badhilda). From his earliest childhood his father had 
 taught him the use of the bow, and the greatest praise he ever 
 gave him was to say, 
 
 " You are a bowman like my brother Eigel." 
 
 Young Wittich wanted very much to learn all that he could 
 about his uncle, and Wieland began : 
 
 "When your mother's father Niduder, Drost of the Niars 
 made me a prisoner long ago, my brother Eigel came to his 
 castle, and entered his service as bowman of the guard. Every 
 one admired his skill. He could shoot away the head of an 
 eagle that was flying high as the heavens. I have also seen him 
 aim an arrow at the right or left foot of a lynx, and pin it 
 to the bough on which the creature sat And he did other 
 wonderful things too numerous to relate. But the Drost wanted 
 to see something more wonderful still, so he desired him to 
 shoot an apple off the head of his own child at a hundred paces 
 off, telling him at the same time that if he refused, or if obeying, 
 he missed his mark, he would have the boy hewn in pieces before 
 his eyes. Eigel drew three arrows from his quiver, and fitted one 
 to the bowstring. The boy stood motionless, looking at his father
 
 I 5 8 DIETRICH OF BERN. 
 
 with perfect confidence. Could you have done that, my lad ? 
 Eh ! " 
 
 " No father," answered Wittich boldly, "I would have fetched 
 your trusty sword Mimung, and have hewn off the head of 
 that wicked old man ; and then, if his Niars had tried to 
 avenge him, I would have chased them out of the country." 
 
 "All very fine, young hero," laughed the father, "but re- 
 member this ; a true hero only speaks of what he has done, 
 not of what he would have done under such and such circum- 
 stances. It would have been better, however, if Eigel had done 
 something of that kind. After he had shot away the apple, 
 he turned to the Drost, and told him, that had he by any 
 accident killed his son, he would have used the two other 
 arrows in shooting him first, and then himself. The Drost 
 took no notice of the speech at the time, but soon afterwards, 
 he exiled the bowman without thanks or payment, and no one 
 knows what has become of him." 
 
 The smith brought up his son on tales like this, which 
 naturally excited the boy's ardour for adventure, and made him 
 more and more unwilling to work at the forge. One day the 
 lad spoke out, and asked his father to give him a suit of 
 armour, and the good sword Mimung, that he might hie away 
 to Bern, fight with king Dietrich, and win a kingdom like 
 his ancestors. After many refusals the smith at last gave his 
 consent, and furnished his son with all that he needed for the 
 enterprise, explaining to him the special virtues of each weapon. 
 Finally he told him to remember that his great-grandfather, 
 King Wilkinus, a mighty warrior in his day, had married a 
 mermaid, who, when the king was dying, had promised him, by 
 the memory of their love, that she would help any of their 
 descendants who asked for her aid. " Go down to the sea- 
 shore, my son," continued the smith, "if ever you are in need,
 
 DIETRICH'S COMRADES. I 59 
 
 and demand the protection of our ancestress." And then with 
 much sage advice, together with many old stories of things he 
 had seen and known, Wieland took leave of his son. 
 
 Wittich rode on for many days before he met with any 
 adventure. At length he came to a broad river, and dis- 
 mounting, took off his armour, which he laid upon the bank, 
 and began to wade across the water, leading his horse Skemming 
 by the bridle. When half way across, three horsemen in full 
 armour passed by, and seeing him began to taunt him and 
 ask him where he was going. He told them that if they 
 would wait until he had put his armour on, he was ready to 
 try conclusions with them. They agreed, but no sooner did 
 they see him dressed in his coat of mail, and mounted on his 
 good steed, than they bethought them, that as they were in a 
 strange place, it would be better to have a man of such thews 
 and sinews for a comrade than an enemy. So they offered 
 him peace instead of war. He accepted, and after shaking 
 hands, they journeyed on together. 
 
 They rode up stream for a long way, and at last they came 
 to a castle. A host of savage-looking men poured out of the 
 gates, and advanced to meet them. 
 
 "There are too many for us to conquer," said the eldest of 
 the strangers, "still I think that our good swords may enable 
 us to hew our way across the bridge." 
 
 " Let me go and offer them a silver piece as toll," said 
 Wittich, and setting spurs to his horse he rode on. 
 
 Arrived at the bridge, he was informed that the only toll 
 demanded or accepted there were the horse, armour, clothes, 
 right hand and right foot of the traveller. He explained that 
 he could not afford to pay so high a price for so small a benefit, 
 and offered them a piece of money. Whereupon they drew 
 their swords and attacked him.
 
 160 DIETRICH OF BERN. 
 
 The three warriors meanwhile kept on a neighbouring height, 
 and watched and commented on all that went on below. Seeing 
 that their new friend seemed hard beset, two of them galloped 
 to his assistance, while the third held back in scorn. But 
 before they reached the place of combat, seven of the robbers 
 were slain, and at sight of them the others took flight. 
 
 The heroes now rode on to the castle, where they found plenty 
 of food and much booty. While they enjoyed their evening 
 meal, their tongues were unloosed, and each told his name and 
 deeds. Wittich had more to tell about his father than about 
 himself, and then he learnt that the eldest of his new compan- 
 ions was Master Hildebrand, the second strong Heime, and 
 the third Yarl Harnboge, who was also a comrade of Dietrich. 
 
 "This is a stroke of good luck for me," cried the young 
 warrior, " for I am on my way to Bern to try my strength 
 against the glorious king, and I have good hope that I may 
 win the day, for my father has given me his sword Mimung 
 that can cut through steel and stone. Just look at the hilt, 
 is not the workmanship beautiful ?" 
 
 On hearing this, the three comrades grew more silent, and 
 proposed to go to rest, as they were very tired. Wittich 
 followed their example. 
 
 The young hero was soon snoring in company with Heime 
 and Hornboge, but Hildebrand lay awake, a prey to sad fore- 
 bodings. He knew that Wittich's sword could cut through his 
 master's helmet, and he considered what was to be done. He 
 crept noiselessly from his bed, and taking Mimung, compared it 
 with his own sword. The two blades were wonderfully alike, 
 but not the hilts. So with a grim smile of satisfaction, he 
 carefully unscrewed the blades from the hilts, and exchanged 
 them ; then returned to his couch, and soon after fell asleep. 
 
 They started again on their journey next morning. In the
 
 DIETRICH'S COMRADES. 161 
 
 course of a few days, they met with several adventures that 
 proved to Hildebrand and his comrades that Wittich was of 
 the stuff that heroes are made of. 
 
 On hearing of the arrival of his old master and the rest, 
 King Dietrich hastened out into the court to meet and welcome 
 them. But his astonishment was great when the young stranger 
 pulled off his silver gauntlet and handed it to him. In another 
 moment Dietrich had snatched it, and flung it in the youth's 
 face, exclaiming wrathfully : 
 
 " Do you think it is part of a king's duty to make a target 
 of himself for every wandering adventurer to strike at ? Here, 
 my men, seize the rascal, and hang him to the highest gallows." 
 
 "The power to do so is on your side," answered Wittich, 
 " but bethink you, my lord, whether such a deed would not 
 bring dishonour on your fair fame." 
 
 And Hildebrand said, " Sire, this is Wittich, son of Wieland, 
 the celebrated smith. He is no mean man, or secret traitor, 
 but well worthy of a place in the ranks of your comrades." 
 
 " Very well, master," replied the king, " I will fight him as 
 he desires, but should he be conquered, I will deliver him to 
 the hangman. It is my last word. Now come to the race- 
 course." 
 
 The whole town assembled to witness the duel between the 
 king and the stranger. The combat raged long, but at last 
 Wittich's sword broke, and he stood defenceless before the 
 king. 
 
 " False father, you deceived me," he cried, " you gave me the 
 wrong sword, and not Mimung." 
 
 " Surrender, vagrant," cried Dietrich, "and then to the gallows 
 with you." 
 
 The young warrior's last hour had come, if Hildebrand had 
 not sprung between them. 
 
 L
 
 162 DIETRICH OF BERN. 
 
 "Sire," he said, "spare an unarmed man, and make him 
 one of your comrades. We could not have a more heroic soul 
 in our company." 
 
 " No. He shall go to the gallows. Stand back, master, that 
 he may once more lick the dust before me." 
 
 The master was sick at heart. He thought of how he had 
 wronged the young hero by changing his sword: "Here, brave 
 warrior, is your sword Mimung," he said, handing Wittich the 
 weapon at his side, " and now, Dietrich, do your best ! " 
 
 The battle began again, and Mimung showed its mettle now. 
 Bits of the king's shield and armour fell away, and a home- 
 stroke laid his helmet open. ' Surrender, king ! " cried the 
 victorious youth ; but Dietrich fought on, in spite of terrible 
 wounds. 
 
 Then the master sprang forward. 
 
 " Wittich," he cried, " hold your hand, for it is not your 
 own strength, but Wieland's sword that gives you victory. Be 
 our comrade, and then we shall rule the world, for, next to 
 the king, you are the bravest of all the heroes." 
 
 "Master," replied Wittich, "you helped me in my need and 
 I will not now deny you." Then turning to the king : 
 
 "Glorious hero of Bern, I am your man henceforward, and 
 will be faithful to you as long as I live." 
 
 The king took his offered hand in his firm grasp, and made 
 him ruler over a large fief. 
 
 WILDEBER, ILSAN AND OTHER COMRADES. 
 
 Ecke was the eldest son of the once powerful king Mentiger 
 by the mermaid whom he made his queen. He loved Queen 
 Seeburg, who lived at Cologne in the Rhineland. Seeburg 
 had a great desire to see King Dietrich, and Ecke on hearing
 
 DIETRICH'S COMRADES. 163 
 
 of it, promised to bring him to her, or die in the attempt. 
 She, on her side, said that she would be his wife if he came 
 home successful. He went, met Dietrich, and after showing 
 prodigies of valour, died at his hands, much to the sorrow of 
 the king, who had learnt to love him during the few hours of 
 their acquaintance. 
 
 When Dietrich returned to Bern after slaying Ecke, Heime 
 came out to meet him, and was so outspoken in his joy at 
 seeing him again, that the king, much touched, gave him his 
 good sword Nagelring as a sign of his friendship. The warrior 
 received it with delight, and kissed the trusty blade twice or 
 thrice, as he said : 
 
 " I will wear this sword for the glory of my king, and will 
 never part with it as long as I live." 
 
 "You are unworthy of the sword," cried Wittich, who had 
 come up with the other warriors : " Do you remember how you 
 left your weapon in its sheath when the robbers were attacking 
 me, and that Hildebrand and Hornboge alone helped me ? " 
 
 "Your self-sufficiency had made me angry, as your spiteful 
 tongue does now. I will cut it out." 
 
 Both men put their hands to their swords, but the king 
 stepped between them, and desired them to keep the peace in 
 the castle. When he learnt all that had happened, Dietrich told 
 Heime that he might go his way, because it was not seemly in 
 a warrior to leave his comrade unaided in danger. But he 
 added, that when he had shown by brave deeds that he was 
 really a hero, he might return to them once more. 
 
 "Well, sire, I think I shall win myself greater wealth by 
 Nagelring than I lose in the castles you now take from me." 
 
 Having thus spoken, the bold warrior sprang on his horse, and 
 rode away without taking leave of any one. He rode on, till 
 he reached the Wisara (Weser), where he drew a band of robbers
 
 1 64 DIETRICH OF BERN. 
 
 around him, and wrought great mischief. He plundered the 
 defenceless country-people, and even bold warriors had to pay 
 him black mail ; and thus, through highway robbery, he became 
 the owner of a great hoard of wealth, which he was never tired 
 of increasing. 
 
 Dietrich had to tell his friends of his terrible combat with the 
 hero Ecke, in which he had won the beautiful suit of armour he 
 brought home with him, and the good sword Ecke-sax. One 
 day, when the warriors were discussing this subject, a monk entered 
 the hall, and remained standing humbly near the door. He 
 was tall and broad-shouldered, and his cowl was pulled forward 
 so as to hide his face. The servants began to play him tricks, 
 until at last the monk, growing impatient, seized one of his 
 persecutors by the ear, and held him up shrieking in the air. 
 
 When the king asked the reason of the noise, the monk stepped 
 forward, and begged a morsel of bread for a half-starved penitent. 
 Dietrich came forward himself, and commanded food and drink 
 to be placed before the brother ; but his astonishment was great 
 when the monk pushed back his cowl, and displayed well rounded 
 cheeks that bore no trace of starvation. He was still more 
 surprised when he saw the quantity of food and wine the reverend 
 brother could dispose of. 
 
 " The holy man has the appetite of a wolf," murmured the 
 bystanders. 
 
 " Five long years have I done penance by prayer, fasting 
 and water-drinking," he said, "and have now license from the 
 venerable prior to go out into the world, and lay penance on other 
 sinners. Now," he continued, going on with his meal, "ye be all 
 miserable sinners with your continual feasting and drinking, and I 
 call upon you to do penance, and be converted, that your sins 
 be blotted out." 
 
 Then he intoned, in a loud ringing voice, " O Sanctissima."
 
 FRIAR ILSAN'S CONJURING OF WILDEBER. 
 
 66
 
 DIETRICH'S COMRADES. 
 
 167 
 
 Master Hildebrand had joined the group, and now exclaimed : 
 
 " Why, it is my own dear brother, Ilsan the Monk." 
 
 "Culpa mea," cried the monk; "touch me not, unholy brother. 
 Confess, and do penance, that thou go not straight to hell like 
 the others." 
 
 " But," said the master, " we are all collected here together to 
 convert, by kindness or force, all monsters, giants, and dwarfs ; so, 
 my reverend brother, I now beg of you to lay aside your robes, 
 and once more become one of us." 
 
 " Convert, say you ? Yea, I have license to convert the heathen, 
 and will therefore join you in your pious work." 
 
 With these words, the monk flung off his robes, and stood 
 before them dressed in full armour. 
 
 " Here," he cried, touching his broadsword, " is my preacher's 
 staff, and here," pointing to his coat of mail, " my breviary. St. 
 Kilian pray for me and for all of us, Ora pro nobis." 
 
 He sat down amongst the warriors, who had all known the 
 stout monk Ilsan for many years. He drank and sang, now 
 psalms, now songs, and told merry tales of his life in the 
 monastery. 
 
 Evening came on apace. Candles and torches were lighted. 
 Suddenly every one was startled by a strange creature pattering 
 in at the door. It was like a bear to look upon. Its head 
 
 resembled that of a boar, but its hands and feet were of human 
 
 ' 
 
 form. The monster stood as though rooted to the threshold, and 
 appeared to be considering on whom first to make its spring. 
 
 " An evil spirit," cried Ilsan ; " a soul escaped from the purga- 
 torial fire. I will address it. Conjuro te . . ." He paused, 
 for the monster had turned its face to him. 
 
 " I will drag him back to his purgatory again," cried bold 
 Wolfhart, springing over the table, and seizing the creature by 
 its fur. But pull and tug as he might, he could not move it by
 
 68 DIETRICH OP BERN. 
 
 so much as an inch. It quietly gave the warrior such a kick, 
 that he fell head over heels into the middle of the hall. 
 
 Hornboge, Wittich, and other warriors tried to push the monster 
 out with their united strength, but in vain. 
 
 " Give room, brave comrades," cried the angry king. " I will 
 see whether the monster is proof against my sword Ecke-sax." 
 
 " Sire," interrupted Master Hildebrand, catching him by the 
 arm, " look ; do you not see a golden bracelet, sparkling with 
 precious stones, on the creature's wrist? It is a man perhaps a 
 brave warrior." 
 
 " Well," said the king, turning to his strange guest, " if you are 
 indeed a hero, doff your disguise. Join us, and be our faithful 
 comrade." 
 
 On hearing these words, the strange guest threw off boar's 
 head and bear's skin, and stood before the king and his followers 
 clad in armour. 
 
 "I know you now," said Hildebrand. "You are the brave hero 
 Wildeber, surnamed The Strong. And the gold bracelet is the 
 gift of a swan-maiden, and makes your strength double. But 
 why did you so disguise yourself ? Every brave man is a welcome 
 guest to our king." 
 
 Wildeber seated himself by the master's side, emptied a goblet 
 of sparkling wine, and said : 
 
 " Once, after fighting a hard fight with robbers, I lay down to 
 sleep on the bank of a lake. Suddenly I was awakened by a 
 splashing in the water. Turning my eyes in the direction of the 
 noise, I saw a beautiful maiden bathing. I spied her swan- 
 garment lying on the bank, crept up to it softly, took it, and 
 hid it. The maiden sought it everywhere, and when she could 
 not find it, she began to weep aloud. I went to her, and begged 
 that she would follow me home and be my wife. But she wept 
 the more, and said that she must die if she were deprived of her
 
 DIETRICH'S COMRADES. 169 
 
 bird's dress. I was sorry for her, and gave it back, whereupon 
 she gave me this bracelet, which increases my strength immensely; 
 but she told me that to preserve it I must wander about as 
 a bear with a boar's head, until the most famous king on earth 
 chose me to be one of his comrades. If I did not obey her, she 
 warned me that the virtue of the jewel would depart, and I should 
 soon be slain in battle. Having thus spoken, she flew away. 
 That is why I came to you in such disguise, brave hero," he 
 continued, addressing Dietrich ; " and as you have received me 
 into the ranks of your comrades of your own free will, I hope 
 that the bracelet will retain its magic power as long as I live." 
 
 " Pax vobiscum ! " stammered the monk, as he staggered away 
 to bed. The other warriors soon followed his example, and 
 silence reigned in the palace. 
 
 DlETLEIB. 
 
 King Dietrich was one day about to mount his horse, and set 
 out to visit his brother monarch, the Emperor Ermenrich, when 
 a warrior rode into the court. The king at once knew him to be 
 Heime. He was not much pleased to see him back at Bern, but 
 when Heime told him that he had been victorious in many battles 
 against giants and robbers, he consented to receive him once 
 more into the ranks of his comrades, and desired him to accom- 
 pany him and certain of his followers to Romaburg. 
 
 At Fritilaburg, where they rested, Dietrich accepted the offered 
 service of a man who called himself Ilmenrik, son of a Danish 
 yeoman Soti ; and enrolled him amongst his servants. 
 
 When they came to Romaburg, they were received with all 
 honour by the emperor, who gave them both board and lodging. 
 But the emperor forgot one thing in his plans, and that was, to 
 provide food for the servants. Ilmenrik fed them the first night.
 
 170 DIETRICH OF BERN. 
 
 On the second, his private resources being exhausted, he pawned 
 Heime's armour and horse for ten gold pieces ; on the third, he 
 pawned Wittich's goods for twenty; and on the fourth, he got 
 thirty for the weapons and horse of the king. On the fifth day, 
 when the king gave orders for their return home, Ilmenrik asked 
 for money to free the articles he had pawned. Dietrich was 
 astonished and angry when he heard how extravagant his servant's 
 ideas had been. He took him before Ermenrich, who at once 
 said he would pay the sum required, and asked how much it was. 
 The emperor and all his court made merry at Ilmenrik's expense, 
 especially Walter of Wasgenstein (Vosges), who asked him if he 
 was a were-wolf, and well up in strange knowledge of all kinds. 
 Ilmenrik modestly answered that he had learnt to perform many 
 feats of strength and skill from his father, such as putting the 
 stone and throwing the hammer ; and that he would wager his 
 head against the lord of Wasgenstein's that he could beat him 
 in this. Walter accepted his challenge, and the trial began. 
 
 Such skill as Ilmenrik displayed had never been seen before. 
 The heroes all feared for the life of the brave warrior of Was- 
 genstein. The emperor then called the young victor to him. 
 
 " Hearken to me, young sir," he said ; " I will buy the head 
 of my vassal from you at whatever price you list. Gold for 
 blood is the old law." 
 
 " Fear not, sire," answered Ilmenrik, " the head of the brave 
 hero is in no danger from me. I do not want it. But if you 
 wish to do me a kindness, lend me so much money as I have 
 expended for the keep of the servants, that I may redeem the 
 weapons, garments, and horses that I pawned." 
 
 "Treasurer," said the emperor, turning to one of his minis- 
 ters, "weigh out sixty marks of red gold, that the fellow may 
 redeem his pledges, and another sixty marks to fill his purse.' 
 
 " Thank you, my lord," returned the young man, " I do not
 
 DIETRICH'S COMRADES. i ?I 
 
 need your gift, for I am a servant of the rich king of Bern, 
 who will see that I lack nothing; but if you will keep us 
 another day here, I will, with this sixty marks, treat the ser- 
 vants to a better feast than before, and also my master, all 
 his warriors, and you yourself, should you desire to join the 
 party, even if I have to pawn horses and coats of mail again." 
 
 The warriors all laughed at the merry youth, but Heime 
 frowned, and said that if ever he pawned his horse again it 
 should cost him his life. 
 
 The feast which the servant prepared them was of royal 
 magnificence. All were pleased except Heime, who secretly 
 feared that his property was again in pawn. The young fellow 
 seated himself at his side, and asked him in a low voice if he 
 knew who had given him that scar on his forehead. Heime 
 answered that it was Dietleib, son of Yarl Biterolf, adding that 
 he would know him again in a moment, and that the scar 
 should be avenged in blood. 
 
 Ilmenrik replied : 
 
 " Methinks, bold warrior, your memory has gone a-wool- 
 gathering. If you look me in the face, you will see that I am 
 that Dietleib whom you and your robbers attacked as he was 
 riding through a forest with his father. We slew the robber 
 Ingram and his companions, but you escaped with that wound, 
 thanks to the speed of your good horse. If you don't believe 
 me, I have a witness here that will prove my words in the 
 open field. But if you will trust me, the matter may remain 
 a secret between us." 
 
 Towards the end of the feast, Dietrich told the youth that 
 he should no longer be a servant, but should be received into 
 the ranks of his comrades ; and he, thanking him, answered that 
 he was really Dietleib, son of Yarl Biterolf, whose glorious deeds 
 were known far and wide.
 
 I 7 2 DIETRICH OF BERN. 
 
 All the king's followers, except Heime, received the young 
 hero into their ranks with pleasure. He returned to Bern 
 with the king, and proved himself his trusty comrade in many 
 an adventure. But he was of a restless mind, and wished to 
 see more of the world ; so after a time he took service under 
 Etzel, king of the Huns, at whose court he found his father 
 settled. Father and son together were the doers of many a 
 daring deed. King Etzel, wishing to keep them in his service, 
 offered them the land of Steiermark (Styria) as a fief. Biterolf 
 gave up his share to his son, who was therefore surnamed the 
 Styrian, but who often appears in story by his right name of 
 Dietleib the Dane.
 
 ADVENTURES. 
 
 DWARFS BIND THE SLEEPING HEROES 
 
 ADVENTURES. LAURIN. 
 ILSAN 
 
 KING LAURIN AND THE LITTLE 
 ROSE-GARDEN. 
 
 I E T L E I B once came unex- 
 L- Voi^tHHa^^ ' pectedly on a visit to Master 
 Hildebrand at his castle of 
 Garden. He looked sadder than of old, and returned the 
 master's greeting without an answering smile. Hildebrand
 
 174 DIETRICH OF BERN. 
 
 inquired the cause of his sadness, and he replied that he had a 
 sweet and wise sister named Kiinhild, who had kept house for 
 him in Styria. One day, when she was dancing with other 
 maidens in a green meadow, and he looking on, she suddenly 
 vanished from the circle, and no one knew what had become 
 of her. 
 
 " Since then," he continued, " I have learnt from a magician 
 that it was the dwarf king Laurin that hid her under a cap 
 of darkness, and carried her off to his hollow mountain. This 
 mountain is in Tyrol, where the dwarf has also a wonderful 
 Rose-garden. Now, good master, I have come to you for advice. 
 How can I free my sister from the power of the goblin ? " 
 
 " It is a ticklish matter," said Hildebrand, " and may cost 
 many a good life. I will go with you to Bern, to see Dietrich 
 and our other comrades, and then we can agree in council 
 what is the best plan to pursue. For the dwarf is powerful, 
 not only because of the extent of his empire, but from his 
 knowledge of magic." 
 
 When the heroes heard what had brought Hildebrand and 
 Dietleib to Bern, Wolfhart spoke first, and said that he would 
 adventure himself alone upon the quest, fetch home the maiden 
 safe and sound, and bring the royal mannikin to Bern bound 
 to his saddle-bow. Dietleib then asked Hildebrand if he knew 
 the way to the Rose-garden. He replied that he did, but that 
 Laurin watched over the garden himself, and exacted the left 
 foot and right hand of any one who was bold enough to ven- 
 ture within its bounds, and spoil the roses. 
 
 " He cannot exact this tribute," said Wittich, " unless he gets 
 the better of the warrior in fair fight." 
 
 " Well then," added the king, " we will not touch the lovely 
 flowers. All we want is to save our friend's sister from the 
 hands of the dwarf, and that is a labour beseeming a warrior."
 
 ADVENTURES. l?s 
 
 The heroes all swore to do no hurt to the garden, and then 
 Hildebrand consented to be their guide. The adventurers were 
 Hildebrand, Dietrich, Dietleib, Wittich, and Wolfhart. 
 
 Their road led them northward among the wild mountains, 
 and over crevasses, ice, and snow. It was a perilous way they 
 trod, but they recked nothing of fatigue or danger, for their 
 hearts beat high with hope. At length they reached the 
 garden : a lovely place, where spring reigned eternally, making 
 it a flowery oasis in a wintry desert. The heroes feasted 
 their eyes on the beautiful sight, and felt as though they had 
 reached the gates of paradise. 
 
 Wolfhart was the first to break the spell : setting spurs to 
 his horse, he called to his comrades to follow, and galloped 
 towards the garden. His mad career was soon checked by an 
 iron door with golden letters inscribed on it He tried to 
 break open the door, but in vain ; his comrades came to his 
 aid, and the door was at last beaten in by the four strong men. 
 The garden was still defended by a golden thread, such as used 
 to surround the palaces of the Ases in the olden time. The 
 warriors trod down the thread, and then, in spite of Hildebrand's 
 warnings, began to pluck the roses and trample the garden. 
 Dietrich did not join in the work of destruction, but stood 
 apart under a linden tree. 
 
 Suddenly Hildebrand called out, " Draw your swords ! Here 
 comes the master of the garden." 
 
 They all looked up, and saw something bright advancing 
 rapidly towards them. Soon they were able to distinguish the 
 form of a horseman riding a steed that was swift as the wind. 
 He was small of stature, and habited in a complete suit of 
 armour. His helmet was of specially beautiful workmanship, 
 and was further adorned with a diadem of jewels, in the midst 
 of which a carbuncle blazed like a sun. On beholding the
 
 DIETRICH OF BERN. 
 
 damage that had just been done, he drew rein, and exclaimed 
 angrily : 
 
 " What harm have I ever done you, robbers as you are, that 
 you should thus destroy my roses ? If you had aught against 
 me, why did you not send me a challenge like honourable 
 men ? You must now expiate your crime by each giving me 
 his right hand and left foot." 
 
 " If you are King Laurin," answered Dietrich, " we do indeed 
 owe you reparation, and will pay you a fine in gold ; but we 
 cannot afford to lose our right hands, for we require them to 
 wield our swords ; and as to our left feet, we could not well 
 ride were we deprived of them." 
 
 " He would be a coward who talked of paying any fine except 
 in blows," cried Wolfhart ; " and I am determined to dash that 
 hop-o'-my-thumb, together with the cat he is riding, against the 
 cliffs over yonder, and then his bones will break into such tiny 
 pieces that even his grasshopper subjects can never collect them." 
 
 Upon this Laurin answered in words of defiance, and the 
 combat with Wolfhart began, only to end in the latter's overthrow 
 the moment he felt the touch of the dwarfs spear. Wittich was 
 siot more fortunate than his friend, for he also was thrown from 
 his saddle at the first encounter. 
 
 Laurin sprang from his horse, drew out a large knife, and 
 approached the hero, who lay senseless on the ground. Dietrich 
 sprang forward to rescue his comrade. 
 
 " Do not venture the spear thrust, but close with him," said 
 Hildebrand in a low voice. "Laurin has three magic charms of 
 which you must deprive him ; and these are, a ring with the 
 stone of victory on his finger, a belt that gives him the strength 
 of twelve men round his waist, and in his pocket a cap of 
 darkness, which makes him invisible when he puts it on." 
 
 After a long and fierce wrestle, Dietrich managed to get
 
 DIETRICH'S ADVENTURES. I77 
 
 possession of the ring, which he at once gave into the master's 
 charge. Again the combat raged, neither side gaining any 
 advantage. At last Dietrich begged for a short truce, which 
 Laurin granted. 
 
 The truce over, the two kings renewed the fight. Dietrich 
 caught Laurin by the belt, and at the same moment the latter 
 clasped him round the knees so tight that he fell backwards. 
 The violence of his fall broke the belt he was holding, and it 
 slipped from his hand. Hildebrand then rushed forward and 
 caught it before the dwarf could pick it up. No sooner was 
 this done than Laurin went out of sight. Dietrich still felt the 
 blows he gave, but could not see him. Filled with a berserkir 
 rage at his own powerlessness, he forgot the pain of his wounds ; 
 he flung away both sword and spear, sprang like a tiger in the 
 direction in which he heard the whistling of the invisible sword, 
 and seized his adversary for the third time. He tore away the 
 cap of darkness, and Laurin stood before him praying for peace. 
 
 " I shall first cut off your right hand and left foot, and then 
 your head, and after that you may have peace," cried the angered 
 hero, setting off in pursuit of the dwarf, who now took to his heels. 
 
 " Save me, Dietleib, my dear brother-in-law," cried Laurin, 
 running up to that warrior ; "your sister is my queen." 
 
 Dietleib swung the little creature on horseback before him, and 
 galloped away into the wood. There he set him down, and told 
 him to hide himself until the king's anger was abated. 
 
 Coming back to the place of combat, the warrior found Dietrich 
 on horseback, and as furious as before. 
 
 " I must have either the dwarf's head or yours," cried Dietrich. 
 
 In another moment their swords were flashing ; a second fight 
 would have begun had not Hildebrand held back the king by 
 main force, while Wittich did the same to Dietleib. After a little 
 they succeeded in making peace between the angry men, and 
 
 M
 
 DIETRICH OF BERN. 
 
 also in gaining grace for the dwarfs. Later still the warriors 
 might have been seen in friendly converse with each other and 
 with Laurin, who was then and there admitted as one of Dietrich's 
 comrades. 
 
 This point settled, the dwarf proposed to show them the wonders 
 of his hollow mountain, saying that Dietleib should then give his 
 sister to him as wife, with the usual ceremonies. 
 
 " It is the old law," answered the hero of Steierland, " that when 
 a maiden has been carried away from her home and is recovered 
 by her friends, she should have free choice given her either to 
 remain with her husband, or return to her people. Are you 
 willing that it should be so in this case ? " 
 
 " By all means," said the dwarf. " Now let us go. Do you see 
 that snow-capped mountain? My palace is there so to horse, 
 that my eyes may no longer be pained by seeing the wreck you 
 have wrought in my garden. The roses will bloom again in May.'' 
 
 The journey to the snow-capped mountain was much longer 
 than the warriors had imagined. It lasted till noon of the fol- 
 lowing day. Below the snow, they came to a meadow that was 
 as beautiful as the rose-garden. The air was filled with the 
 perfume of flowers. Birds were singing in the branches, and little 
 dwarfs were to be seen hurrying to and fro. They followed Laurin 
 into the dark entrance of his underground kingdom. The only 
 one of their number who felt the least distrust was Wittich, who 
 had not forgotten the thrust of the dwarf king's spear. 
 
 IN KING LAURIN'S REALM. 
 
 A SOFT twilight reigned in the vast hall of the palace to which 
 they now came. The walls were of polished marble, inlaid with 
 gold and silver. The floor was formed of a single agate, the 
 ceiling of a sapphire, and from it there hung shining carbuncles 
 like stars in the blue sky of night. All at once it became light
 
 DIETRICH'S ADVENTURES. 179 
 
 as day. The queen came in surrounded by her maidens. Her 
 girdle and necklace were jewelled, and in her coronet was a 
 diamond that shone like the sun, bringing the brightness of day 
 wherever it came. But the lady herself was more beautiful than 
 aught else. None could take their eyes off her face. She seated 
 herself beside Laurin, and signed to her brother Dietleib to sit 
 down at the other side of her. She embraced him and asked him 
 many questions about her old home and friends. By this time 
 supper was ready. Laurin was a perfect host, and his guests were 
 soon quite at their ease. Even Wittich forgot to be suspicious. 
 When the meal was over, the dwarf king left the hall, and Dietleib 
 seized the opportunity to ask his sister whether she was willing 
 to remain in that underground paradise as its queen. She an- 
 swered with tears that she could not forget her home and friends ; 
 that she would rather be a peasant girl in the upper world than 
 a queen among the dwarfs, and that though she must admit that 
 Laurin was very good and kind, yet he was not as other men. 
 Dietleib then promised to save her, or lose his life in the attempt. 
 
 Laurin now returned, and asked the hero if he would like to 
 retire to his bedchamber. He took him there, and remained 
 talkin^ with him for some time. At last he told him that his 
 
 O 
 
 comrades were all condemned to death, and that he had only 
 spared him because he was his brother-in-law. 
 
 "Traitor, false dwarf!" cried Dietleib. "I live and die with 
 my comrades, but you are in my power!" 
 
 He started forward, but the dwarf was gone, and the door was 
 shut and locked on the outside. 
 
 Laurin then returned to the hall, filled the goblets of the 
 warriors from a particular jar, and entreated them to drink the 
 wine, which would insure them a good night's rest. They did 
 so, and immediately their heads sank upon their breasts, and a 
 heavy drugged sleep fell upon them. Then turning to the queen.
 
 i So DIETRICH OF BERN. 
 
 Laurin desired her to go to her room, for these men must die in 
 punishment for the wreck they had made of his rose-garden ; 
 adding that her brother was safely locked up in a distant room, 
 that he might escape the fate of his comrades. Kiinhild wept 
 aloud, and said that she would die if he carried out his cruel 
 purpose. He gave her no distinct answer, but reiterated his 
 command. 
 
 As soon as the queen had retired, he sounded his horn, and 
 immediately five giants and a number of dwarfs hurried into the 
 room. He commanded them to bind the warriors so tight with 
 cords that they could not move when they awoke. After that he 
 had them dragged to a dungeon, where they might remain until 
 he should decide their fate next morning. Having seen his orders 
 carried out, he went to bed, and began to think whether it would 
 be better to let the men off to please the queen, or to punish them 
 for their evil deed. The last seemed to him the wiser plan, and 
 he fell asleep, gloating over the intended slaughter of his helpless 
 victims. 
 
 Dietrich awoke soon after midnight ; he felt that he was bound 
 hand and foot, and called to his comrades for aid ; but they were 
 as powerless as he. Then Dietrich's wrath was roused to such a 
 pitch, that his fiery breath burnt the cords that bound one hand, 
 and left it free. After that, it was a matter of little difficulty to 
 untie the knots at his wrist and feet, and then to set his comrades 
 at liberty. What was to be done now ? They could not break 
 open their dungeon door. They had neither weapon nor coat of 
 mail. They were helpless victims. At this very moment, while 
 they were looking at each other in despair, they were startled by 
 hearing a woman's voice asking in a low whisper if they were yet 
 alive. 
 
 " We thank you, noble queen," answered Hildebrand, " we are 
 alive and well, but totally unarmed."
 
 DIETRICH'S ADVENTURES. 181 
 
 So Kiinhild opened the door, and appeared on the threshold 
 with her brother. She placed her finger on her lips to enforce 
 silence, and led the way to where the heroes' armour was piled. 
 As soon as they were ready, the queen gave each of them a ring, 
 by means of which he could see the dwarfs, even when they wore 
 their caps of darkness. 
 
 " Hurrah ! " cried Wolfhart. "We can make as much noise as 
 we like, now that we have our armour on, and our weapons in. 
 our hands." 
 
 Laurin, wakened by Wolfhart's loud tones, knew that the pri- 
 
 
 soners were free, and at once summoned his dwarfish army to his? 
 
 assistance. The battle began, and raged for a long time without, 
 any advantage being gained by either side. Laurin was pleased 
 in his heart of hearts that matters had turned out as they had, for 
 he was a bold little fellow, and liked open war better than trickery. 
 At length the underground forces were routed with great loss, and 
 Laurin himself was taken prisoner. 
 
 Dietrich spared the life of the dwarf king at fair Kiinhild's 
 request, but deposed him from royal power, and gave the mountain 
 to Sintram, another dwarf of high rank, for a yearly tribute. When 
 everything was ordered to their liking, the heroes returned to Bern, 
 taking Laurin with them as a prisoner. 
 
 There was great joy in Bern at the return of the heroes, who 
 were much praised for their valiant deeds, while the unfortunate 
 Laurin was laughed at by all. There was only one person who 
 showed him any sympathy, and that was Kunhild. One day she 
 met him when he was wandering about alone and melancholy, 
 She spoke to him kindly, tried to comfort him, and told him 
 he would soon gain the king's friendship if he proved himself 
 to be faithful and true. 
 
 "Ah," he laughed bitterly; "they think that they have kicked 
 a dog who will lick their hands ; but a trodden snake bites ! You
 
 1 82 DIETRICH OF BEEN. 
 
 may know what I intend to do. I have sent to inform Walberan, 
 my uncle, who rules over the dwarfs and giants from the Caucasus 
 to Sinai, of what has happened, and he is coming at the head of 
 his forces to be my avenger. He cannot fail to win the day, slay 
 strong Dietrich and his comrades, and lay the whole land waste. 
 When that is done, I will take you back to my kingdom, and 
 replant my Rose Garden, that it may be lovelier in May than 
 it ever was before." 
 
 " Laurin," she answered, "you carried me away from home by 
 trickery and magic spells ; but I have not been blind to your love, 
 and feel myself honoured by its greatness. I cannot live in your 
 underground kingdom, but I will love you and be your queen in 
 the Rose Garden, if you will think of love and faithfulness, and not 
 of revenge." 
 
 She left him, and he sat pondering the matter for a long time. 
 
 A few days afterwards, Dietrich came to the Dwarf King, and, 
 taking him by the hand, said, that he had been his prisoner long 
 enough, that he must now sit with his comrades, or return to his 
 own home, whichever he liked best. 
 
 "And then," continued the king, "I will go with you to your 
 Rose Garden next spring, and see it in its beauty." 
 
 The dwarf silently followed the king into the hall. He sat at 
 Dietrich's side at the feast, and thought over the vengeance he 
 would take when his uncle came. 
 
 But lovely Kunhild appeared and filled his goblet, saying a few 
 kind words the while, and immediately love conquered hatred, and 
 he cried, emptying the goblet to the last drop, 
 
 " Henceforward I am your faithful comrade in life and death." 
 
 Whilst the warriors were still at the feast, a messenger from 
 King Walberan came in, and declared war on Dietrich in the name 
 of his master, unless Laurin were at once restored to his kingdom, 
 and unless the hero of Bern sent Walberan all the money and all
 
 DIETRICH'S ADVENTURES. 183 
 
 the weapons in the country, as well as the right hand and left foot 
 of every warrior who had taken part in the destruction of the Rose 
 Garden. 
 
 Dietrich answered proudly, that he intended to keep his money, 
 arms, hands, and feet, and those of his subjects also. 
 
 "And tell him," added Laurin, "that I send him my thanks and 
 greeting for coming to my assistance, but that I am now free, and 
 have entered into a bond of love and friendship with the King of 
 Bern." 
 
 Both sides prepared for battle, but before a blow was struck, 
 Laurin rode into his uncle's camp, and tried to make peace 
 between Walberan and Dietrich. His uncle told him he was no 
 better than a broken-spirited serf, and refused to listen to his 
 words. So the fight began, and raged furiously for many hours. 
 At length, late in the afternoon, Dietrich and Walberan met, 
 and challenged each other to single combat. It was a terrible 
 struggle both kings were severely wounded, and it seemed to the 
 onlookers as if both must die. Suddenly Laurin threw himself 
 unarmed between their swords, flung his arms round King Wal- 
 beran, and entreated him to make peace. Almost at the same 
 moment Hildebrand did the same by the angry Dietrich, and after 
 much expenditure of words, the peacemakers had their way. 
 
 So the fighting was changed to feasting, and the kings entered 
 into a friendly alliance at the banquet that evening. The hero of 
 Bern made a long speech in praise of Laurin, who had endan- 
 gered his life in endeavouring to make peace, and to whom he 
 therefore restored the free and independent rule over his kingdom 
 and Rose Garden. When he had finished, Queen Virginal came 
 forward, leading fair Kiinhild, and laid the hand of the maiden 
 in that of Laurin, saying that she knew he would regard her 
 reward of his faithfulness as the greatest he had that day received ; 
 for Kiinhild had promised to be his wife if her brother did not
 
 1 84 DIETRICH OF BERN. 
 
 object. As no dissentient voice was heard, the marriage was cele- 
 brated there and then. 
 
 In the May-month of the following year, when the roses were 
 again in bloom, the dwarfs put the finishing touches to a beautiful 
 palace, which they had built in the Rose Garden. Many a herds- 
 man and Alpine hunter has seen it ; but to those who go in search 
 of it from mere curiosity, it remains ever invisible. 
 
 To this day, Laurin and Kiinhild show themselves at odd times 
 in the valleys of Tyrol, and there are people yet alive who are 
 reported to have had a distant glimpse of the wonderful Rose 
 Garden.
 
 DIE TRICH'S AD VENTURES. 
 
 THE GREAT ROSE GARDEN AND 
 ILSAN THE MONK. 
 
 DIETRICH was now a man in the 
 prime of life a perfect hero, and 
 man of valour. The number of 
 his comrades had much increased, and many doughty deeds had 
 been done. 
 
 Once when the king was feasting with many of his comrades, he
 
 186 DIETRICH OF BERN. 
 
 looked round the table with pride, and said he believed that no 
 ruler on earth had such heroes about him, that no other had pros- 
 pered so well as he with the help of his chosen comrades, and 
 that none might be compared with them. The warriors shouted 
 their approbation. One alone was silent. The king turned to 
 him, and asked whether in all his journeys he had seen bolder 
 warriors. 
 
 " That I have," cried Herbrand. " I have seen some that have 
 not their match upon earth. It was at the good town of Worms, 
 near the River Rhine, in the land of Burgundy. It is there that 
 the great Rose Garden lies five miles long by two-and-a-half 
 broad. The queen and her ladies tend it themselves, and twelve 
 great warriors keep watch and ward lest any one enter the garden 
 without the queen's permission. Whoever does so must fight with 
 the guard, and no one yet, whether giant or warrior, has been able 
 to withstand them." 
 
 " Let us go and pluck the roses that have been watered with the 
 blood of heroes," cried Dietrich. " I think that my comrades and I 
 will get the better of the guard." 
 
 " If you mean to try your luck," said Herbrand, " you must know 
 that the victor will receive a kiss and a wreath of roses from 
 lovely women." 
 
 "Ah, well," said the old master, "for the sake of a rose and a 
 woman's kiss I would not risk a single hair of my head or beard. 
 He who wishes to pluck roses or kiss women will find enough at 
 Bern ; he need not go to the Rhine to find them." 
 
 Trusty Eckehart and a few more of the comrades agreed with 
 him, for well they knew what the Burgundian warriors were like. 
 But Dietrich loudly declared that he was not going to fight for the 
 sake of roses and kisses, but for honour and fame ; and that if 
 his comrades did not wish to go with him, he could go alone. Oi 
 course, they would not hear of that, and all who were present agreed
 
 DIETRICH'S ADVENTURES. ,59 
 
 to go. The names of those who thus adventured their lives were : 
 Dietrich himself, Master Hildebrand, strong Wittich, Henne called 
 the Grim, Wolfhart, the young heroes Siegestab and Amelung (or 
 Omlung), Trusty Eckehart, and Hertnit, Prince of the Reussen ; 
 but they only numbered nine in all, and twelve were needed 
 to meet the twelve watchmen of the garden. Hildebrand knew 
 what was to be done. He said, 
 
 "Good Rudiger of Bechelaren will not refuse to be the tenth; 
 the eleventh must be brave Dietleib of Styria, and the twelfth 
 my pious brother, the monk Ilsan." 
 
 They started forth at once to induce the chosen three to join 
 them. They went first to Bechelaren, in the land of the Danube. 
 Rudiger received them hospitably, and at once consented to go 
 with them, but said that he must first get leave of absence from 
 Etzel, whose margrave he was. The heroes then went on to Styria 
 to visit Dietleib. They did not find him at home, but his father 
 Biterolf, who was there, earnestly entreated them to give up the 
 journey to the Rhine, because, he said, only a fool would under- 
 take a conflict for life or death with the world's bravest warriors, 
 for the sake of a rose and a kiss. But when they met the young 
 hero a short time after, they found him ready to go with them. 
 This settled, they went on to Miinchenzell, the monastery to which 
 Hildebrand's brother belonged. As soon as Ilsan heard the object 
 of their journey, he went straight to the abbot, and asked leave to 
 accompany the hero of Bern to the Rose Garden. The abbot told 
 him that such was scarcely a monkish quest, but Ilsan grew so 
 angry, and so loudly affirmed that valiant deeds were in his eyes 
 as seemly for a monk as for any other man, that the abbot quailed 
 before him, and gave him leave to go. So Ilsan donned his 
 armour under his monkish dress, and started with his friends. His 
 .heart beat high with joy that he was again bound on one of 
 Dietrich's adventures, while his brother monks stood by and shook
 
 190 'DIETRICH OF BERN. 
 
 their heads, saying they feared it would not end well, seeing it was 
 no saintly quest, but a worldly. 
 
 The heroes went first to Bern, which was to be the general 
 meeting-place. Margrave Riidiger was the last to arrive, for he 
 had been detained by his visit to Etzel. Riidiger was now sent 
 on before the others as ambassador to King Gibich at Worms, to 
 inform him of their intended invasion of the Rose Garden. The 
 Margrave was well known in the Rhineland, and was received as 
 an old friend by the king, who rejoiced to hear of his leader's 
 enterprise. 
 
 The garden was entered on the appointed day, and the warriors 
 stood opposite each other ready for battle ; twelve against twelve, 
 and yet always one against one. It was a terrible sight, for many 
 a hero fell dying amongst the roses, and watered them with his 
 heart's blood. When proud Wolfhart had slain his adversary, he 
 contemptuously refused the kiss offered him by a lovely maiden, 
 and contented himself with the garland of roses. The monk, Ilsan, 
 walked into the lists on foot, clad in his grey robes. He jumped 
 about among the roses with such strange agility that his opponent 
 thought he had a madman to deal with. But he soon found that 
 his reverend foe was made of sterner metal than he supposed, for 
 he lay vanquished, a wiser man, though wounded almost to the 
 death. The victor received the wreath of roses on his tonsured 
 head, but when he kissed the lovely maid who gave it him, she 
 shrieked aloud, for his bristly beard had stung her rosy lips. 
 Seeing this, he said with comical disgust, 
 
 "The maidens of Rhineland are fair to see, 
 But far too tender to pleasure me." 
 
 Many other heroes received the prize of victory, while others 
 were severely wounded. Peace was not concluded until sunset. 
 The brave hero of Bern soon afterwards returned home, pleased 
 with the result of his quest
 
 IV. DIETRICH, THE FAITHFUL ALLY. 
 MARCH TO ETZEL. 
 
 T^vIETRICH lived in friendship with Etzel, king of the Huns, 
 *-^ from the time Riidiger first brought them together. When 
 the hero came back from Burgundy, he had sent ambassadors 
 to the king, and promised to help him if he was in any difficulty. 
 It was not long before he was reminded of this promise. 
 
 The Margrave, who was known in all lands by the title of the 
 good and gentle, came to Bern one day as he had often come 
 before, for he was a welcome guest. On such occasions the 
 warriors would talk over their past adventures, and tell tales of 
 noble and doughty deeds. Riidiger told amongst other things 
 of his adventures in Spain, and how he had at last left that 
 country, and taken service under King Etzel, who had always 
 been a true friend to him since the beginning of their acquaint- 
 ance. He went on to relate how King Etzel, powerful monarch 
 as he then was, did not shun to speak of the hardships and home- 
 lessness of his early youth. 
 
 "Yes, truly," interrupted Master Hildebrand, "and I know as 
 much of his early youth as ever the great king himself. Once 
 when Wilkinus was ruler of the Wilkin-men " 
 
 " Ha ! my great-grandfather ! " cried Wittich. " What have you 
 to say of him ? "
 
 192 DIETRICH OF BERN. 
 
 "I only know," continued the master, "that he was a mighty 
 chief, and that many kings were subject to him ; amongst others, 
 King Hertnit. After the death of Wilkinus, Hertnit rebelled 
 against his son and heir, Nordian, and forced the latter to ac- 
 knowledge him as his liege lord. The conquered king obtained 
 the rule of Zealand in fief, and declared himself satisfied, although 
 he had four gigantic sons, namely, Asperian, Edgar, Awentrod, 
 and terrible Widolf of the club, who was always kept chained up, 
 because he did so much destruction whenever he was in a rage. 
 When great Hertnit died, he divided his kingdom amongst his 
 three sons. Osantrix (Oserich) obtained the rule over the Wilkin- 
 men, Waldemar that over the Reussen, and Ylias became yarl 
 of the Greeks. The eldest of the three wooed beautiful Oda, 
 daughter of Melias, king of the Huns. He won her by trickery 
 and force, with the help of Nordian's four giant sons. Oda's father 
 and husband became allies after the marriage, but they could not 
 conquer the bold Frisians, who often made raids into the land 
 of the Huns, and burnt, destroyed, or stole whatever they laid 
 their hands on. For Melias was old and weak, and the Wilkin- 
 men lived so far away that their help always arrived too late. The 
 leader of these bold invaders was the mighty man of valour now 
 known as King Etzel, or Attila as he is sometimes called. He 
 was a son of the Frisian chieftain Osid, and after his father's death 
 had to allow his brother Ortnit to succeed to the rule of Friesland, 
 and himself go out into the wide world, with nothing but his 
 armour and a good sword. But Frisians are a bold and warlike 
 people. Many of them joined themselves to the young hero, and 
 accompanied him in his viking raids into the neighbouring land 
 of the Huns. When Melias died, the notables of the land elected 
 their former enemy, bold Etzel, to be their king, and thus the 
 robber chief and invader became the sovereign and protector of 
 the country he had once laid waste."
 
 DIETRICH, THE FAITHFUL ALLY. 193 
 
 " Yes," returned Rudiger, " that is quite true, and there is 
 more to tell. King Etzel wished to marry Erka (Herche or 
 Helche), the beautiful daughter of Osantrix, chief of the Wilkin- 
 men. I was sent as ambassador to her father, and was well 
 received ; but when I told the king the object of my mission, he 
 grew wrathful, and said that he would never give his consent to 
 such a marriage, for Etzel was not the rightful chief of the 
 Huns ; adding that the position was his by right of his wife, 
 the daughter of Melias. He cared not when I threatened him 
 with war ; but desired me to go my way. Etzel invaded the 
 country with his men ; and when, after much fighting, a truce was 
 at last agreed to, neither side had gained much advantage. 
 
 " A year later, I went back with a number of brave men, and 
 had a strong castle built for me in the Falster-wood. This 
 done, I stained my face, and otherwise disguised by a long 
 beard, went again to visit Osantrix. I told him I was a faithful 
 servant of the late King Melias, that I had been ill-treated and 
 deprived of my lands by Etzel, and had therefore taken refuge 
 with him. This story gained me his confidence, and having 
 occasion to send his daughter Erka a message, he made me his 
 ambassador. I told the maiden of Etzel's wooing, and how he 
 wished to share his power and glory with her. At first she was 
 very angry, but at last consented to marry him. 
 
 " One moonlight night, I brought horses to the ga^es of the 
 fortress where she was shut up with her young sister ; broke 
 the bars, and carried off the princesses. We \vsre pursued, but 
 managed to reach the castle in the wood where my men were 
 awaiting me. I had scarcely time to send a message to Etzel, 
 when Osantrix came upon us with all his host He laid siege 
 to our stronghold ; but we managed to defend ourselves till 
 Etzel came with a great army, and forced the Wilkin-men to 
 withdraw. Ever since then, there has been a constant predatory 
 
 N
 
 194 DIETRICH OF BERN. 
 
 warfare between the two nations, and Osantrix has even now 
 invaded our land with a large army. He is accompanied by 
 Nordian's giant sons, who are the terror of our people. Now, 
 noble Dietrich, Etzel thinks that if you will come and help him, 
 he is sure of victory." 
 
 " Ah well ! If my dear comrade Wildeber will go with me," 
 cried Wittich, "I think that we two shall be able to reckon with 
 the giants." 
 
 Dietrich promised his help, and ordered all preparations to be 
 made for the campaign. The Bernese heroes arrived just in time, 
 for the two armies were standing opposite each other in battle 
 array. The fight began. 
 
 Dietrich and his men took up their position in the centre divi- 
 sion. The Amelung banner, borne by Herbrand, floated proudly 
 above their heads, and Wittich rushed foremost into the fray. He 
 first encountered the grim giant Widolf, who gave him a blow on 
 the helmet with his iron club. The dragon that formed the top of 
 the helmet was bent by the terrible blow, and although Wieland's 
 work did not break, the hero himself fell from his horse, and lay 
 senseless on the ground. Over him rushed the men-at-arms in 
 the wild meUe. Heime alone drew rein. He stooped, and drew 
 the sword Mimung out of Wittich's hand, for he held him to be 
 dead. When the wild fight was over and done, the Wilkin-men 
 retreated from the field, and the Huns pursued them, plundering 
 where they could. Hertnit, nephew of Osantrix, reached the 
 battle-field too late. He could not prevent his uncle's defeat, 
 but he found Wittich, as yet scarcely recovered from his swoon, 
 and took him prisoner. 
 
 The victors feasted at Susat, and rejoiced over their great 
 deeds ; but Dietrich was sad at heart, for he had lost sixty of 
 his men ; and, worst than all, his friend and comrade, Wittich, was 
 among the missing. In vain had they sought him on the battle-
 
 DIETRICH, THE FAITHFUL ALLY. 195 
 
 field. All wondered what had become of him. When the king 
 of Bern, richly rewarded for his help by Etzel, made ready for 
 his departure, Wildeber came to him, and asked for leave of 
 absence, because he would not, could not, go home without 
 Wittich. Dietrich willingly gave his consent, for he could not 
 help the foolish hope springing up within his breast that per- 
 haps Wittich might be yet alive, and that his friend might find 
 him. 
 
 The next day, Wildeber went out hunting, and slew a bear of 
 unusual size. He skinned it, and went with the skin to Isung, 
 the minstrel, and arranged with him a plan to free Wittich, should 
 he be a prisoner in the hands of Osantrix. Isung helped him to 
 draw the skin over his armour, and fasten it up carefully ; then 
 led him in the guise of a dancing bear to the stronghold of the 
 chief of the Wilkin-men. 
 
 Now wandering players and merry-andrews, of every sort, 
 were welcome guests in all castles and cottages, so Isung and 
 his bear were well received. 
 
 Osantrix laughed heartily at the marvellous agility of the 
 creature in dancing and springing to the sound of the fiddle, and 
 even Widolf, the grim gvint, who was led about with a chain by 
 his brother Awentrod, laughed for the first time in his life, 
 making the halls shake with the sound. Suddenly it occurred 
 to the king that it would enhance the sport to set his twelve 
 boar-hounds on the bear, to see how strong it was. 
 
 Isung vainly entreated the king to forbear the cruel sport, 
 alleging that his tame bear was worth more to him than all the 
 gold in the royal treasury ; but Osantrix was not to be persuaded. 
 The great dogs were loosed, and the barbarous sport began. To 
 the astonishment of all, the boar-hounds were either worried or 
 smitten to death by the bear. 
 
 Osantrix sprang angrily to his feet, and slashed at the creature's
 
 196 DIETRICH OF BERN. 
 
 shoulder with his sword ; but the steel armour under inside the 
 bear-skin saved the hero's life. Another moment, and the bear 
 had wrenched the sword from the king's hand, and split his head 
 open. The second blow did to death grim Widolf, the third his 
 brother Awentrod. Isung stood staunchly by his friend when 
 the Wilkin-men sought to avenge their king. The courtiers, how- 
 ever, soon took flight in deadly fear of the player and his wild 
 beast. 
 
 Wildeber now threw off the bear-skin, took the helmet off 
 one of the giants, and fully armed, set out in search of Wittich. 
 The heroes searched the palace. They found Wittich's good 
 steed Skeming, and his armour ; but neither him nor the sword 
 Mimung could they discover. 
 
 At length they lighted on him in a damp, dark dungeon, 
 chained to a wall, and grown so pale and thin as to be hardly 
 recognisable. Fresh air, food, and wine soon made a change in 
 his appearance. He put on his armour, and sadly took another 
 sword, saying that none could be as good as Mimung. 
 
 " Now let us begone," said Isung, " lest the Wilkin-men should 
 come back." 
 
 So Wildeber and he helped themselves to horses from the 
 royal stables, and the three heroes galloped away. 
 
 " Of a truth," cried King Etzel, when he heard their story, 
 "you are bold men. You have done me good service, and have 
 brought the war to an end unaided. The lord of Bern is richer 
 than I, in that he has comrades who willingly venture their own 
 lives to serve a brother-in-arms." 
 
 He kept the heroes for several days to recruit their strength, 
 and then sent them home laden with rich gifts. 
 
 Dietrich was overjoyed to see his brave warriors again, and 
 showed them honour in many ways ; but noticing that trusty 
 Wittich was silent, and had no appetite for wine or food, he
 
 DIETRICH, THE FAITHFUL ALLY. 197 
 
 asked him what ailed him. And Wittich answered that he 
 sorrowed for the loss of Mimung, his father's best gift, and 
 would go in search of it though he had to wander through 
 every land. 
 
 "I have a notion that you need not take so long a journey," 
 replied the king, " for I cannot help thinking that the sword 
 Heime wears is as like Wieland's work as one drop of blood is 
 like another." 
 
 The conversation was interrupted by the arrival of two warriors 
 in rich armour, who had been sent by the Emperor Ermenrich, 
 Dietrich's uncle, to tell the hero that Yarl Rimstein, his vassal 
 in a great fief, had revolted against his authority. Ermenrich, 
 therefore, entreated his nephew's aid, and Dietrich promised to 
 help the emperor. 
 
 MARCH AGAINST RIMSTEIN. 
 
 Before starting, Wittich said that he could not go to Rimstein 
 without his sword, and Heime refused to give it up, alleging 
 that it was his by right of war ; but the king smoothed matters 
 for the time by desiring Heime to lend it to his comrade during 
 the campaign. 
 
 The warriors set out. The rebel yarl proved himself a tougher 
 foe than had been expected, and even after weeks and months 
 had passed, his castle seemed as impregnable as ever. 
 
 One moonlight night when Wittich was out alone, he met six 
 warriors whom he knew, by the device upon their shields, to 
 belong to the enemy. They fought, and Wittich slew their chief, 
 his sword Mimung cutting him in two from the neck to the 
 waist. The other five fled in terror, lest a like fate should befal 
 them. On examining the dead man, Wittich found it was the 
 yarl himself that he had slain, so he returned to the camp well
 
 198 DIETRICH OF BERN. 
 
 pleased. Next morning he told Dietrich and his comrades what 
 had chanced, and how the war was now at an end. 
 
 " He is indeed a bold warrior," said Heime sarcastically ; " he 
 has slain a weak old man, who could not defend himself a bit 
 better than a woman. But now, I must have Mimung back again, 
 for I only lent it for this enterprise." 
 
 "Let me first try it on your head, false comrade," answered 
 Wittich indignantly. "You left your brother-in-arms to die in a 
 strange land, and were traitor enough to rob him of his weapon 
 of defence as well. You shall now pay the penalty of your 
 meanness." 
 
 Heime drew his sword Nagelring, and a fight was imminent ; 
 but Dietrich thrust himself between the angry men, and com- 
 manded them on their allegiance to keep the peace. 
 
 Ermenrich rejoiced to hear of Wittich's deed, and that the war 
 was at an end. He gave rich presents to Dietrich and his men, 
 and asked the royal hero to give Wittich leave of absence, that 
 he might marry fair Bolfriana, the emperor's ward, and undertake 
 the government of her rich fief of Drachenfels (the "Trekanfil" 
 of Norse legend). Dietrich was pleased at his comrade's good 
 fortune, and at parting, he merely reminded him of his oath of 
 fidelity, which the hero at once renewed. 
 
 Not long afterwards Wittich was married to Bolfriana, and 
 was endowed by the emperor with the great fief of Drachenfels, 
 which extends to Fritilaburg (Friedburg ?), and far beyond the 
 eastern mountains. So Wittich became a mighty chief, as he 
 had told his father that he would. Heime also, when his father 
 Studas died, went to Ermenrich's court to take the oath of al- 
 legiance. He received other lands from his imperial master, and, 
 what he liked still better, much red gold besides.
 
 THE HARLUNGS. 
 
 199 
 
 V. ERMENRICH TURNS 
 AGAINST THE HERO 
 OF BERN. 
 
 THE HARLUNGS. 
 
 RMENRICH had a great and 
 mighty empire. His lands 
 stretched out to the east and west, and many kings owed him 
 fealty. His counsellors were wise and clear-headed men, whose 
 advice was of the utmost use to him. Chief among these was 
 Sibich, the marshal of the realm, who was helped in his arduous 
 labours by Ribestein, the head of the royal household, and his 
 constant companion. These men had always used their influence 
 with the emperor to keep him true to his alliance with his 
 nephew, the king of Bern, of whom, in his heart of hearts,
 
 200 DIETRICH OF BERN. 
 
 his imperial highness was not a little jealous. But a great 
 change was soon to take place in the policy pursued at Roma- 
 burg. 
 
 Sibich had a young and beautiful wife, of whom he was very 
 fond. Now Ermenrich once sent him away on a long journey, 
 and during his absence did him foul wrong. When the marshal 
 returned, and heard from his weeping wife of the emperor's 
 treachery, he was filled with wrath. At first, he snatched up a 
 dagger to kill his foe, but restrained himself, for he had thought 
 of a subtler mode of vengeance. He desired to make the 
 emperor the murderer of every member of his family, to deprive 
 him of all his allies, and finally have him assassinated. It was 
 a plan worthy of the devil himself, and was carried out with great 
 craft and intelligence. 
 
 Sibich's first step was to buy over Ribestein to his design, 
 which he did for a large sum of money, avarice being the man's 
 weak point. This done, Ribestein agreed to write letters to the 
 emperor as if from the duke of Tuscany, the count of Ancona, 
 the prince of Milan, and others, warning him that his son Friedric.h 
 was plotting against him. 
 
 The evil deed was easily accomplished, as Ribestein had copies 
 of all the coats of arms and seals used by the grandees of the 
 empire. Ermenrich was naturally of a suspicious disposition, so 
 he readily fell into the snare laid for him. He consulted Sibich 
 as to what were best to be done, and the false counsellor advised 
 him to send Prince Friedrich with a letter to Yarl Randolt, 
 ostensibly to demand payment of the tribute the yarl owed, but 
 really containing an order that the prince should be slain. The 
 emperor did as he was advised, and Sibich took care that the 
 deed should become generally known. A cry of horror went 
 through the land, and Ermenrich was hated by all. 
 
 Reginbald, the second son, met his death in a different fashion :
 
 THE HARLUNGS. 
 
 201 
 
 he went down in the rotten ship in which his father had sent 
 him on a pretended mission to England. 
 
 One son alone remained, Randwer, the third and youngest, 
 a high-spirited, handsome youth, in whom there was no guile. 
 That helped him nothing, however. One day, in the innocence 
 of his heart, he gave his young step-mother Swanhild a bunch 
 of flowers, when they were out hunting with the whole court, 
 and Ermenrich, whose mind had been poisoned by false Sibich, 
 ordered Swanhild to be trampled under foot by horses, and 
 Randwer to be hung. His commands were obeyed. He was 
 now alone in the world, a childless old man. 
 
 "Well, Ribestein," said the marshal to his accomplice, "we 
 are getting on very well. The emperor's only remaining heirs 
 are the Harlungs, Imbreke and Fritele, who live at Breisach, 
 on the Rhine, with their governor Eckehart ; and then Dietrich 
 of Bern. The Harlungs and the hero are both brother's children. 
 You were not born and brought up in Romaburg, so I will tell 
 you the story. 
 
 " Ermenrich's grandfather left two sons besides him namely, 
 Dietmar, the father of Dietrich, who received the kingdom of 
 Lombardy, and Dieter, surnamed Harlung, who during his 
 father's lifetime received the Breisgau and an enormous hoard 
 of red gold. Now listen to this. If we can only get rid of the 
 Harlungs and the hero of Bern yes, open your eyes and ears 
 as wide as you can you and I can divide between us the in- 
 heritance of Ermenrich ! " 
 
 Ribestein jumped at the proposal as a fish jumps out of the 
 water with joy on a bright day. He had never thought of such 
 a thing before ; but he quickly understood what was required 
 of him, and set about the evil work at once. 
 
 The Harlungs were first brought under suspicion. Letters 
 were shown to the emperor purporting to be from Imbreke,
 
 202 DIETRICH OF BERN. 
 
 Fritele, and even from their governor Eckehart, addressed to 
 different notables of the empire, and setting forth Ermenrich's 
 crimes in the darkest colours. One of the letters contained the 
 following passage: "Since our liege lord has, in his desperatj 
 wickedness, slain his own children, he must himself perish, and 
 that on the highest gallows." The emperor was so angry when 
 he read these words, that he determined to collect an army, and 
 march against his rebellious nephews. 
 
 The troops were called out without any one knowing against 
 whom the campaign was to be made. They marched towards 
 the Rhine till they reached Tralenburg, which belonged to the 
 Harlungs and where the brothers then lived. Two horserueii 
 kept watch by the river. When they saw the armed men, they 
 feared something was wrong, and, dismounting, swam with their 
 horses across the river. They gave the alarm, and all was 
 prepared for defence. Imbreke and Fritele knew the science of 
 war ; but they were still very young, and Eckehart, their governor, 
 was detained at Breisach by business of the state. When the 
 Harlungs saw their uncle's banner, they thought all danger was 
 over; but soon found to their cost that it was a warlike and 
 not a peaceful visit. Wittich and Heime were with the imperial 
 army ; but as soon as they learnt Ermenrich's plans they rode 
 away to Breisach to warn the faithful Eckehart of what was 
 going on. As they journeyed together, they became good friends 
 again. 
 
 Tralenburg was at length reduced by fire and taken by storm. 
 Without seeing his nephews, Ermenrich ordered a gallows to 
 be erected, and the two brothers to be at once hung thereon. 
 In those days the word of a mighty potentate was law, and the 
 emperor was obeyed without remonstrance. Ermenrich now took 
 possession of the Harlungs' land, and sent out men to search 
 for the rich hoard the murdered princes had inherited from their
 
 THE HARLUNGS. 203 
 
 father. It was at length found hidden in a cave. The emperor 
 rewarded his army richly, and kept the rest of the treasure-trove 
 for himself. 
 
 Meanwhile Heime had returned. He had come back intend- 
 ing to reproach his liege lord with his evil deed, and to throw 
 up his fief. But on receiving a large share of the booty, he forgot 
 his better purpose. He was entrusted with the care of taking 
 the treasure to Romaburg. When he saw the heap of red gold 
 and precious stones, he took care that a considerable portion of 
 it should find its way to Studa's grange, and not to Romaburg. 
 Meanwhile curses both loud and deep were uttered in every land 
 against the emperor. Eckehart brought the news of the Harlungs' 
 fate to Bern, and Dietrich's wrath burned when he heard it. He 
 said the time would surely come when he could demand expia- 
 tion from Ermenrich, and punish his evil counsellors Sibich and 
 Ribestein. The fiery young heroes Alphar and his brother 
 Sigestab wished to start at once alone with Eckehart to avenge 
 the murder. But their father Amelolt and Hildebrand persuaded 
 them to wait. 
 
 " What is only put off may yet be done," said Alphar to his 
 brother, laying his hand upon his sword. 
 
 Somewhere about this time Sibich and Ribestein met to hold 
 counsel as to what they should do next. 
 
 " Another stone is out of the way," said Sibich ; " now we 
 must try to find levers strong enough to move the great rock 
 that stands in our way." 
 
 The accomplices felt that they must be careful and not push 
 matters too fast, for, in the first place, the emperor's own soul 
 was darkened by the crimes he had committed, and whenever he 
 was alone he was haunted by the unsubstantial ghosts of those 
 whose death he had compassed, and, in the second place, before 
 declaring war upon the hero of Bern, they felt it would be
 
 204 DIETRICH OF BERN. 
 
 safer to gain over as many as possible of his comrades to their 
 side. But they were hurried on faster than they wished, for 
 Ermenrich's uneasy conscience would not let him rest he must 
 have excitement 
 
 The first step taken was to demand tribute of Dietrich of 
 Bern. So Reinhold of Milan was sent into the land of the 
 Amelungs to levy the tribute. The messenger returned in a 
 few weeks' time with empty hands. He said that the notables 
 had flatly refused to pay what he demanded, for they had already 
 paid it to the lord of Bern. And Dietrich had desired him to 
 tell the murderer of the Harlungs to come himself and take the 
 tribute, which would be paid him to the last mark at the spear's 
 point and the sword's edge. 
 
 The emperor sent Heime to Bern to tell Dietrich that if he 
 did not pay the tax, he would come in person and hang him on 
 the highest gallows. 
 
 Heime was well received in Bern. Dietrich thought that he had 
 come in memory of old times, but when he delivered the emperor's 
 message, the hero asked him if he remembered his old oath of 
 fidelity ; to which Heime replied that he had served out his bond, 
 that he was now a vassal of the emperor, who had given him land 
 and gold, and to whom he therefore owed service. Therewith 
 he took his leave. 
 
 Heime was not long gone, when Wittich appeared. He galloped 
 up to the castle gate. 
 
 " Arm, comrades, arm ! " he cried, " there is not a moment to 
 lose. Ermenrich approaches with an innumerable army. I rode 
 on before to warn you of his coming. Faithless Sibich intended 
 to have taken you by surprise, and whoever falls into his hands 
 is not far from death." 
 
 Dietrich reminded him of his oath, but like Heime he excused 
 himself, and rode away.
 
 THE HARLUNGS. 2 oj 
 
 The Norns appeared at this time to have thrown their darkest 
 web over the head of the hero of Bern. One blow struck him 
 after another. From Wittich he hastened to the sick queen 
 Virginal. All night long he held her in his arms. In the 
 morning she died, and grief for her loss prevented his acting with 
 the quick determination usual to him. Master Hildebrand, how- 
 ever, was not idle. He had summoned all the vassals with their 
 following from far and wide in the land of the Amelungs. And 
 the night before the queen's death, many allied princes joined 
 them ; amongst the number, Berchtung of Pola (in Istria), and 
 the king's faithful comrade, Dietleib of Styria, with all their 
 men. 
 
 In the morning the old master called the king, and told him 
 that the time was come to fight for his land and people. The 
 hero of Bern made a mighty effort to master his grief. He pressed 
 a last kiss on the pale lips of his dead wife, and passed away 
 on his march to the great battle. 
 
 The emperor had already subdued the duke of Spoleto, and had 
 advanced as far north as Milan. There he encamped, and not 
 suspecting any surprise, he and his men all went to sleep. Mean- 
 while Dietrich had arrived within a short distance of his camp. 
 While the others rested, Hildebrand rode forward to see what 
 watch the enemy kept, and finding them unprepared, he advised 
 an immediate onslaught. 
 
 The imperial forces were suddenly aroused by the battle cry, 
 " Hey for Bern ! Hey for the red lion ! " They hastily got ready 
 for the fray. The battle raged furiously. Dietrich and his 
 followers were far outnumbered by the foe, but that only made 
 them fight with the more desperation. And which of them could 
 have failed to do his duty under such a leader ? 
 
 Wolfhart cried, " If we must die, let each man throw his shield 
 behind him, and take his sword in both hands."
 
 206 DIETRICH OF BERN. 
 
 He did as he said, and Sigestab and Eckehart followed his 
 example. 
 
 Wittich and Heime fought bravely as of old, but they avoided 
 their former chief, and were at length carried away in the general 
 flight For the imperial troops were routed by a flank movement 
 made by Hildebrand. 
 
 Ermenrich went back to Romaburg in a very bad humour. He 
 felt inclined to hang Sibich and Ribestein for leading him into 
 a scrape, yet he refrained, as he hardly knew what he could have 
 done without them. 
 
 Dietrich sent the treasure gained in Milan home to Bern under 
 the charge of some of his comrades, and Berchtung of Pola 
 undertook to provide pack-horses on which to convey it. The 
 convoy travelled by forced marches, but when they reached the 
 lake of Garden, and saw the stars mirrored in its bosom, and heard 
 the plashing of the waterfall, Amelolt thought, that being in the 
 land of the Wolfings, they need no longer fear robbers, and might 
 enjoy a little needful rest. The wearied men hailed his proposition 
 with joy, and, after supping on the provisions in their wallets, soon 
 fell asleep on the soft turf. Hildebrand with ten of his followers 
 tried to keep awake, but they were so tired that the sound of the 
 murmuring water acted on them like a lullaby, and soon they were 
 sleeping as soundly as the rest. 
 
 At daybreak they were roughly wakened. Wild faces glared 
 upon them, strong hands bound them, and scornful laughter 
 echoed in their ears. Four of the warriors, who had sought to 
 defend themselves sword in hand, were cut down. The others 
 were all bound and carried away with the treasure. 
 
 They had not been prisoners long before the comrades saw that 
 they had fallen into the hands of their deadly enemy faithless 
 Sibich. He had heard of their journey in charge of the treasure, 
 and had brought his troops by sea to Garden, had lain in wait
 
 THE HARLUNGS, 207 
 
 near the lake, and had then fallen upon the sleeping men. Thus 
 it was that the brave heroes were conquered by cunning. 
 
 One warrior had escaped the common misfortune, and this was 
 Dietleib, the hero of Styria. He was sleeping in a thicket a little 
 apart from the rest, when Sibich's men fell on the camp. Hearing 
 the noise, he sprang to his feet, slew several of the men-at-arms, 
 mounted his horse and fled to Bern, a bearer of sad tidings. He 
 found every one there in great anxiety. Ermenrich had again 
 invaded the country, had taken Milan, Raben (Ravenna), and 
 Mantua, and, worse than that, many of Dietrich's men had deserted 
 him, and joined the enemy. 
 
 The warriors who preserved their faith, and were determined 
 to die with their lord if needful, were few in number. A message 
 was sent to Ermenrich that the hero of Bern was willing to 
 exchange his prisoners of war for his brave comrades. The 
 answer he received was, that he might do with his prisoners as 
 he liked the warriors the emperor had taken were all condemned 
 to be hanged. This was the worst news Dietrich had ever 
 heard. 
 
 Then the lady Ute, Hildebrand's high-hearted wife, arose, and, 
 accompanied by other noble ladies, went to the enemy's camp and 
 entered the presence of Ermenrich. She offered him in exchange 
 for the prisoners Sibich had just made, all her jewels, and those 
 of all the other women and maidens of Bern. Ermenrich told her 
 harshly that what she offered him was his already, and that if the 
 king wished his comrades to be set free, he and they must leave 
 the country as beggars, on foot, and leading their horses. 
 
 Hildebrand's wife could not bear to hear that. She had fallen 
 on her knees before the emperor ; but now she rose, and told him 
 proudly that the heroes of Bern and their wives knew how to die, 
 but not how to leave their country in dishonour. The women left 
 the camp in deep sorrow
 
 208 DIETRICH OF BERN. 
 
 When Dietrich heard the bad news, he had a long struggle with 
 himself. He had been victorious before with smaller numbers 
 to support him, but victory was always uncertain, and how could 
 he allow his dear old master, and noble Berchtung, brave 
 Wolfhart, Amelolt, Sigeband, Helmschrot, and Lindolt, to die 
 a shameful death ? It was a hard struggle. At length he bowed 
 his head to necessity. He consented to Ermenrich's terms. 
 
 On being set free from prison, his comrades received their horses 
 and arms again, and then they, and other faithful souls, three 
 and forty men in all, accompanied their lord on his sad journey. 
 There was not a dry eye in Bern when the king went away, and 
 even in foreign lands the fate of Dietrich and his comrades was 
 spoken of with bated breath. 
 
 The heroes would not mount their horses when they had crossed 
 the borders of the imperial domains, for the king walked on 
 unheeding over the wild mountain roads. So the small band 
 of brave men wandered through the beautiful Danubian land, 
 and approached Bechelaren, where Margrave Riidiger held court. 
 There they received a brotherly welcome. 
 
 One day, when they had been some time at Bechelaren, 
 Dietrich, who had been thinking of the contrast between his 
 desolated home and the smiling land he saw before him, said, 
 with a deep sigh, that everywhere around him was peace and 
 unity, and he would like to remain there for ever and forget his 
 woes. . 
 
 Wolfhart reproached him vehemently for wishing to forget his 
 home, adding, " If that is the case, I shall go back and fight till 
 my last drop of blood is shed." 
 
 " Not so fast, young hero," answered the Margrave, " King Etzel 
 owes thanks for the help once granted him. I will go with you 
 to the court at Susat, and am certain that he will help you to 
 regain the land of the Amelungs."
 
 WALTER AND HILDEGUNDE. 
 
 209 
 
 WALTER AND HILDEGUNDE TAKEN AS HOSTAGES BY THE HUNS. 
 
 VI. KING ETZEL, WALTER OF WASGENSTEIN, 
 AND HILDEGUNDE. 
 
 "\T7"HEN Etzel became king of the Huns, he was the 
 
 vv 
 
 mightiest of all chieftains, but his lust of power was not 
 
 satisfied. He collected a great army, and falling upon the land 
 of the Franks, demanded tribute with threats of devastation. 
 The Prankish king was unprepared to defend himself, so he 
 paid large sums of money, and gave as hostage for his good 
 faith, the boy Hagen of Tronje (Tronege). His own son was 
 too young, being yet in the cradle. 
 
 The Huns went on to Burgundy, where they also levied 
 tribute, and received as hostage the king's daughter Hilde- 
 gunde, a child of four years old. They were equally successful 
 with King Alphar of Aquitaine, who paid them much red gold, 
 and gave them his young son Walter as hostage. 
 
 Hagen and Walter early showed great warlike ability. They 
 learnt from the Huns to ride, throw the spear, and fight after 
 
 O
 
 2io DIETRICH OF BERN. 
 
 the German fashion, and few could equal them in manly sports. 
 Hildegunde became very lovely, and was a great favourite with 
 the queen. Time went on, and these young people all grew up. 
 Helche advised her husband to marry Hagen and Walter to 
 Hunnish maidens of high degree, so as to confirm them 
 in their devotion to himself, and their adopted country ; but 
 the youths did not admire the beauties of that nation, whose 
 blubber- lips did not provoke a kiss. Walter was more attracted 
 by slender Hildegunde's rosy mouth, fair curls, and blue eyes, 
 than by any of the daughters of the land ; and he was more 
 pleasing in her eyes than the bow-legged Hun whom the queen 
 desired her to marry. 
 
 Meanwhile the Franks and Burgundians had thrown off the 
 yoke of the Huns, and Etzel did not dare to enforce it in 
 the then condition of affairs. Hagen one day found out what 
 had chanced, and, according to one account, he made his escaf e 
 to his own people, but, according to another, was sent home 
 loaded with honours. But Etzel did his best to keep Walter 
 with him, for he knew his bravery and worth. 
 
 Once when the king returned with his warriors from con- 
 quering an invading horde, he gave a great feast, and asked 
 Hildegunde to sing him a song. The maiden complied, and 
 sang about her old home and her mother, and how she trusted 
 to return to them once more, when the hero came for whom 
 she waited. Etzel did not take in the sense of her song, as she 
 had expected ; he had raised the wine-cup to his lips too often 
 for that. But Queen Helche understood, and determined to 
 watch Walter and the maiden, lest they should fly together. 
 
 Walter, too, had understood the meaning of the song, and 
 soon found an opportunity of arranging matters with Hilde- 
 gunde regarding their flight. 
 
 " Do not sleep to-night," he whispered one evening, " but slip
 
 WALTER AND HILDEGUNDE. 
 
 into the treasure-chamber, and take as much gold and silver 
 as you can carry out of the seventh chest ; it is part of the 
 tribute money that your father and mine paid the Huns long 
 ago. Put the money you have taken in two caskets, and 
 
 WALTER AND HILDEGUNDE HALT IN THE FOREST. 
 
 bring them down to the hall. You will find me waiting for 
 you at the gate with two saddled horses. We shall be gone 
 a long time before the drunken Huns find out that we have 
 escaped them."
 
 212 DIETRICH OF BERN. 
 
 They carried out Walter's plan in every particular, and made 
 their way to Bechelaren first, then to the Rhine, and finally to 
 the mountains of Wasgengau (Vosges), in the highest of which, 
 the Wasgenstein, they found a cave with such a narrow entrance 
 that one man could there defend himself against an army. 
 Walter wished to rest awhile, for he had had but little sleep 
 during their long and toilsome journey, so he asked the maiden 
 to keep watch, lest a sudden attack should be made upon 
 them. He had not been long asleep when Hildegunde saw 
 the sheen of armour in the distance. She wakened the hero, 
 telling him that the Huns were upon them. 
 
 " These are not Huns, but Burgundians," he answered, starting 
 to his feet. And he found they were messengers sent by King 
 Gunther, to demand that the treasure should be given up to 
 him. Walter offered to hand over a shield full of gold, but this 
 was refused, and the fray began. But the assailants could only 
 approach one at a time ; so the hero, who had learnt from the 
 Huns to throw the javelin, was able to kill them one after 
 the other with these missiles, and, when they failed, with his 
 sword. Hagen had come with Gunther's men, but he stood 
 apart during the fight, siding with neither party ; only when 
 he saw his friends falling fast, his hand involuntarily sought his 
 sword, but he did not draw it. He returned to the king, and 
 advised him to try an ambush. 
 
 Next day, as Walter and Hildegunde were continuing their 
 journey across the open country, they were set upon by two 
 men in complete armour, who sprang out upon them from 
 behind a clump of bushes. They were Hagen and King Gun- 
 ther. Despairing of flight, Walter leapt off his horse, and they 
 did the same. With wonderful agility, he dodged, now to the 
 right, now to the left, to avoid their blows ; at length his sword 
 cut through one of King Gunther's greaves, and the edge
 
 WALTER AND HILDEGUNDE. 
 
 213 
 
 entered the bone of the leg. He stood over the fallen king, 
 and was about to deal him a death-blow, when a stroke from 
 Hagen disabled his sword-arm. He dropt the sword, but with 
 his left hand drew his dagger, and plunged it into Hagen's eye. 
 Seeing them all three disabled, Hildegunde came forward to 
 propose a truce, and bound up all their wounds ; after which 
 she and Walter went on their way in peace. They arrived at 
 Aquitaine without further adventure, and were there married. 
 The young hero in later days always took part with the Bur- 
 crundians and Ermenrich, as we saw before when Dietleib chal- 
 
 o 
 
 lenged him at Romaburg.
 
 VII. ETZEL AND DIETRICH AGAINST THE 
 REUSSEN. 
 
 T~)UT now we must return to Dietrich and Etzel. When the 
 
 D 
 
 hero of Bern desired Etzel's help in freeing the land of 
 
 the Amelungs from the tyranny of the usurper, he found that 
 it was impossible for the latter to grant it. His hands were 
 already overfull with his own quarrels. 
 
 Waldemar, king of the Reussen, and brother of that Osantrix 
 whom Etzel had formerly slain, and whose daughter he had 
 married, now invaded his borders, and threatened to overrun 
 the country. In truth, Etzel needed Dietrich's help, and the 
 latter did not hesitate to grant it. 
 
 The war lasted a long time. Many men were slain, and 
 much fair land was devastated before the invaders were forced 
 to retire. Dietrich himself was so severely wounded that it 
 was some time before he felt like himself again. There was 
 one thing which happened during the war that saddened and 
 shamed honest Margrave Riidiger, and that was the remem- 
 brance of the way in which Etzel had on one occasion fled 
 before Waldemar, thereby proving the latter the better man. 
 Indeed every one felt that the defeat of the Reussen was owing 
 more to the leadership and heroism of the hero of Bern thaa 
 to any other cause.
 
 ETZEL AND DIETRICH AGAINST THE REUSSEN. 215 
 
 Etzel pursued the enemy within their own borders, and 
 forced them to pay him tribute. 
 
 Dietrich was held in high honour by the Huns, but they did 
 not see the advantage of helping him to regain his own land, 
 and he felt sad at heart. At last Queen Helche thought of a 
 way to make him happy. She proposed to give him her beau- 
 tiful niece Herrat to wife, and then they might rule together 
 over the princess's fair land of Transylvania. Dietrich and 
 Herrat made no objection to the marriage, which was soon 
 afterwards celebrated. But Etzel erred in thinking that the 
 hero of Bern would ever be content to sink into the position 
 of a vassal of the Hunnish empire. Neither he nor Herrat were 
 made of such slight stuff, and Etzel was obliged after all to 
 give the help he had before refused.
 
 VIII. THE RAVEN-FIGHT (BATTLE OF RAVENNA). 
 
 DIETRICH GOES TO BERN. 
 
 OING back to Bern ! Dietrich is going to Bern ! We 
 are to have a campaign in Lombardy," was the cry which 
 rang through the land of the Huns. 
 
 Yes ; Dietrich was really going back, accompanied by many 
 brave comrades new and old, and at the head of a large army. 
 Even Etzel's two sons, mere boys as they were, insisted on going 
 too. The line of march lay through the great mountains and fair 
 plains of Lombardy. Amelolt (Amelung) and Hildebrand, at the 
 head of the Wolfings, stormed Garden, and took the fortress. 
 But the old master had not time to stay and embrace the Lady 
 Ute and his son Hadubrand, for they were not in the castle at the 
 time, and he had to rejoin the army without delay. He came 
 up with the rest at Padauwe (Padua), which Dietrich failed to 
 subdue. The army, leaving Padauwe behind it, moved on to 
 Bern, from which Dietrich heard that Ermenrich's men had been 
 expelled by the citizens. 
 
 At length the hero was at home in his beloved Bern, where 
 he was received with great rejoicings. He had not long to rest ; 
 for a few days after his arrival, Alpher came, bringing a message 
 from Duke Friedrich of Raben (Ravenna), that the Emperor 
 Ermenrich was besieging his town, therefore he begged the hero's 
 
 216
 
 THE RAVEN-FIGHT. 217 
 
 assistance. The Bernese forces made a rapid march, and arrived 
 unexpectedly in the neighbourhood of the imperial army. 
 
 It was of no use to send out scouts. The foe lay hidden in 
 every thicket. Dietrich asked his heroes which of them would 
 undertake to gain the enemy's outpost, and immediately young 
 Alphart, the Lady Ute's foster-son, declared himself ready. 
 Others wished to have the duty ; but he had spoken first, and 
 it was given to him. 
 
 ALPHART'S DEATH. 
 
 The youthful hero rode on towards the dangerous outposts. 
 Suddenly, spears and arrows rained round him, and fell rattling 
 from helm and shield. But they did no harm, for his armour had 
 been made by dwarfs. The enemy's leader rode up to him, and 
 desired him to yield, saying that he might give him his sword 
 without shame, for he was Duke Wolfing, and would return the 
 weapon to Alphart when he was ransomed. 
 
 " What ?'" cried the hero, " are you Duke Wolfing, the only 
 traitor of our race ? You shall have your wages here to-day, and 
 from my hands." 
 
 The combat between the two men was short. Alphart slew his 
 opponent. Upon this, the duke's retainers hastened up to avenge 
 him, but the young hero killed half of them, and put the rest to 
 flight. 
 
 " A spirit from the nethermost hell has come to fight for Die- 
 trich," cried the men-at-arms. " It slew more than fifty of us 
 single-handed, and we ourselves hardly escaped with our lives," 
 
 " Do you not know that the hero of Bern is a son of the devil ?" 
 was the answer; "and what is more natural than that a father 
 should come to his child's assistance? No mortal man can be 
 expected to fight with such a foe."
 
 218 DIETRICH OF BERN. 
 
 " I will go out and see if it be not made of flesh and blood," 
 cried stout Wittich. " Even though it had all hell at its back, I 
 care not ; I must have a turn with it." 
 
 He armed himself quickly, and caught up a sword without 
 noticing that it was not Mimung. Heime, whose life he had saved 
 a short time before, offered to go with him, and avenge him should 
 he fall. 
 
 Alphart recognised the men from a distance. 
 
 " Ye are two faithless comrades," he cried, " and have come to 
 meet your doom." 
 
 The combat between him and Wittich began forthwith, and 
 the latter soon perceived that he had not Mimung. He was twice 
 felled to the ground. In his sore distress, he called on his com- 
 rade to help him ; but Heime hesitated, because it was considered 
 dishonourable for two warriors to fight against one. When 
 Alphart, however, called upon Wittich to yield, if he would not 
 be slain on the spot, Heime sprang forward, and covered his 
 comrade with his shield, thus enabling him to get to his feet again. 
 After which both warriors attacked the young hero. 
 
 Alphart was as active on foot as he was strong of hand. He 
 felled Heime, but Wittich came to his help, and so the battle went 
 on. The three warriors bled from many wounds ; but it was 
 Heime's hand that finally dealt the death-blow. 
 
 "Faithless comrades that ye are," sighed the dying Alphart, 
 " the curse of your dishonourable deeds will follow you to the 
 grave." 
 
 The conquerors left the place of combat in silence. They 
 did not noise abroad the fame of their deed. Yet their armour 
 was bloody, and they were sorely wounded. The men-at-arms 
 whispered in mysterious tones : 
 
 " They have been fighting with that spirit from hell, have slain 
 it, but have seen some terrible sight."
 
 THE RAVEN-FIGHT. 
 
 The news of Alphart's death was received with deep sorrow 
 in the Bernese camp. Dietrich prepared to offer battle to the 
 emperor on the following day, and made all necessary dispositions 
 in case he fell in the fight. 
 
 THE BATTLE. 
 
 Master Hildebrand held watch. Not contented with keeping 
 a distant look-out on the enemy's movements, he went to see with 
 his own eyes what was passing within their lines. A thick mist 
 covered the earth, and hid every object from view. Suddenly the 
 old master and his companion, Eckehart, heard the tramp of 
 a horse. They drew their swords, and waited. At the same 
 moment the moon broke through the mist, and they recognised 
 by its light Rinold of Milan, who, although one of Ermenrich's 
 men, was at the same time a friend of theirs. They greeted each 
 other heartily, and Rinold said that if he might advise Dietrich, 
 he would counsel him to return to the land of the Huns, where 
 he had made himself a home ; for the emperor was too powerful 
 to be overthrown. 
 
 After taking leave of their friend, Hildebrand looked about 
 carefully, and discovered a path leading through a wood by which 
 he could outflank the imperial forces unperceived. On his return 
 to the camp, he arranged with Dietrich that he should take three 
 divisions by this path, and fall upon the enemy at daybreak. 
 Meantime, the king was to be ready to attack in front, the 
 moment he heard Hildebrand's horn sound to the rear of the 
 enemy. 
 
 No sooner had the sun risen than the battle began. Great 
 deeds of valour were done on either side. It were an endless task 
 to tell of each hero's achievements. Among those who fell were 
 the two young sons of Etzel, who showed themselves worthy of 
 their name.
 
 220 DIETRICH OF BERN. 
 
 During the course of that day, Dietrich and Wittich met at 
 last, and it was in this wise. Twilight was drawing on apace, 
 when Wittich, led by his evil star, or by his companion, Rinold of 
 Milan, went back to visit the outpost. Dietrich saw them go, 
 and, remounting, galloped across the valley towards the height, 
 and the other two turned to meet him. When Wittich saw the 
 king riding towards him, his face distorted by the angry spirit 
 that possessed him, and his breath issuing from his mouth like 
 flames of fire, a terror he had never known before overmastered 
 him. He turned his horse and fled, followed by Rinold. 
 
 " Halt, cowards, halt ! " cried the king. " Two against one ! 
 surely ye are strong enough ? " 
 
 " Halt, comrade ! " said Rinold, " I cannot bear the shame of 
 this." 
 
 Wittich turned ; but no sooner did he see the terrible face and 
 flaming breath of his old leader, than he fled once more, leaving 
 Rinold alone to bear the brunt of the attack. 
 
 " Stop, traitor," shouted Dietrich. " You have the sword 
 Mimung in your hand, with which you once conquered me at 
 Bern, and do you now fear to stand ? " 
 
 But Wittich, by encouraging words, and a free use of the spur, 
 urged his noble steed to a yet swifter pace. The king did the 
 same, and Falcon was even fleeter than Wittich's gallant charger. 
 The surf might now be heard beating on the sea-shore. The 
 fugitive warrior reached the strand. He could fly no farther. 
 And behold, at the same moment, two white arms and a woman's 
 head rose out of the waves. 
 
 " Wachilde ancestress save me hide me from that spirit 
 of hell," he cried, and took the terrible leap. 
 
 And Wachilde received him in her arms, and bore him to her 
 crystal hall at the bottom of the sea. Dietrich did not hesitate 
 to follow. The waters swejpt over him and his horse,, but Falcon
 
 THE RAVEN-FIGHT. 
 
 rose again and swam through the roaring surf to the shore. The 
 king looked all about, but Wittich had vanished. He could see 
 nothing but the foaming waves. Sadly the king returned to the 
 camp, having found neither the vengeance nor the death he had 
 sought. 
 
 The Huns declared that they would return home as soon as 
 they had buried their princes with fitting honour. Dietrich heard 
 their determination unmoved. He was thinking of those who 
 had fallen. Master Hildebrand, on the other hand, did what he 
 could to induce them to follow up the victory that they had 
 gained the previous day ; but it was labour lost. They had had 
 enough of fighting at the battle of Ravenna. 
 
 Broken-hearted, Dietrich returned to King Etzel, by whom he 
 was received with the greatest kindness, in spite of all that had 
 come and gone. He sank into a state of sorrowful brooding and 
 melancholy, until at length Herrat, his faithful wife, came to 
 him, and spoke words of comfort and encouragement. And he 
 roused from his dull woe, and started again for fair Lombardy, 
 accompanied by the Queen.
 
 IX. GOING HOME. 
 To GARDEN. 
 
 King, Queen, and the old Master took leave of Etzel, 
 -^ who was too sad about the death of his boys to take much 
 interest in their coming or going. 
 
 The travellers at length came to a wooded hill with a castle 
 perched on the top. This castle belonged to a robber-knight 
 named Elsung, who had always been an enemy of the Amelungs 
 and Wolfings. The old master, who acted as guide, and led the 
 way, bade the king be prepared. He did not speak a moment 
 too soon, for Elsung at the same instant appeared, followed by 
 some horsemen. The robber-knight drew rein, and haughtily 
 demanded, as toll from the travellers, their horses and armour, 
 Hildebrand's long beard, and the beautiful woman who ac- 
 companied them. 
 
 " We need our horses and armour that we may fight in the 
 land of the Amelungs," said Hildebrand, " and we cannot spare 
 the woman, for she acts as our cook." 
 
 " Nay, then, you are Amelungs yourselves," cried Elsung, 
 " and must each give me your right hand and left foot as ransom. 
 If you refuse, I will have your heads as well, that I may avenge 
 my father, whom Samson slew." 
 
 The heroes deigned no further answer. They paid another
 
 GOING HOME. 223 
 
 toll than that demanded with the points of their swords and 
 spears, and with such hearty good will that Elsung's men were 
 either slain, or else took to flight, and their lord himself was 
 finally overthrown and bound. 
 
 As Hildebrand was about to tie the prisoner to a horse 
 Elsung said : 
 
 "You are Ermenrich's men, so I will tell you the news that 
 has just reached me. The brothers of the Lady Swanhilde, 
 whom the emperor had trodden to death by horses, have fallen 
 upon him, and have cut off his hands and feet." 
 
 " Ha ! " cried the hero of Bern, " do you bring such good news ? 
 Take your liberty in payment thereof." 
 
 The travellers now pursued their journey, and after meeting 
 with several more adventures, at last arrived safely at Garden, 
 where they were at first received with suspicion ; but the Lady 
 Ute recognised her husband the moment she saw him, and 
 Hadubrand was introduced to his brave old father, whom he had 
 not seen since his childhood. 
 
 To BERN. 
 
 The hero of Bern was welcomed with the utmost joy by his 
 people, and soon collected an army, which among its most 
 celebrated warriors numbered brave Lodwig and his son Konrad, 
 faithful Eckehart and his comrade Hache. Nor was Heime 
 wanting ; he had done penance for his sins in a cloister, and 
 now, hearing of Dietrich's return, hastened to him to renew his 
 oath, death having released him from the fealty he had formerly 
 owed to Ermenrich. 
 
 Dietrich's and Sibich's forces met. A terrible battle took 
 place. Dietrich fought with heroic valour, sweeping down all 
 before him. Eckehart and Hache sought untiringly for faithless 
 Sibich, and at last they recognised him among the fugitives,
 
 224 DIETRICH OF BERN. 
 
 although he had cast from him all signs of the imperial 
 dignity he had usurped. Eckehart seized him by the scruff 
 of the neck, swung him before him on his horse, and galloped 
 back to the camp. 
 
 '-Remember the Harlungs," he cried, and immediately ordered 
 a gallows to be erected. 
 
 Sibich entreated for life, bare life. He offered much red gold 
 to have his death put off for even a short space, but 
 
 " Remember the Harlungs," was the only answer he received. 
 
 And so the victory was won. The hero of Bern marched 
 to Romaburg at the head of his army. He was everywhere 
 met by the princes of the land of the Amelungs. They greeted 
 him as their chief, and on his arrival at Romaburg he received 
 the imperial crown. 
 
 THE PASSING OF DIETRICH. 
 
 Herrat was a faithful wife and helpmeet. The old master 
 and many of his other ancient friends were round him ; but in 
 the midst of his glory Dietrich could not forget the faithful 
 comrades who had died in his service, the friends who had given 
 him their all, and to whom he could no longer show either 
 love or kindness. 
 
 His power was great. The empire was more extensive than 
 it had ever been before, and peace reigned within its borders. 
 Once, indeed, a giant had committed great devastations within 
 the land, and Heime had sought him out, but only to be slain. 
 Dietrich himself had then gone forth, and had conquered the 
 monster. It was the last combat in which the aged hero ever 
 took part. 
 
 His wife, noble Herrat, soon after fell sick and died. From 
 that time forward his character seemed changed. He was 
 gloomy and morose, and committed many actions for which no
 
 GOING HOME. 
 
 225 
 
 after repentance could atone. The only one of his former 
 pleasures that gave him any happiness was that of hunting. 
 When he heard the cheerful sound of the horns, his face would 
 clear up, and a smile play on his lips, and he would once more 
 look like the Dietrich his friends had known of yore. Once, 
 when he was bathing in the river, a great stag with golden 
 horns, wonderful to look upon, trotted slowly along the bank, 
 and passed into the wood close by. He sprang out of the water, 
 threw on his clothes, and called for horse and hounds. Before 
 
 ROUND THEODERIC'S TOMB. 
 
 the servants could bring him what he desired, Dietrich perceived 
 a coal-black steed come towards him neighing. Seizing his 
 sword and darts, he hastily mounted the noble animal, and 
 galloped after the stag. His servants followed with the fleetest 
 horses in his stables, but could not come up with him. The 
 hero rode on faster, and ever faster. His people waited weeks, 
 months, and even years for his return, but all in vain. The 
 mighty empire had no ruler. Bloody wars broke out in con- 
 ssquence. His subjects longed for his return, that his strong 
 
 P
 
 226 
 
 DIETRICH OF BERN. 
 
 hand might rule the land again; but still he did not come. 
 Wodan, his ancestor, had caught him up to himself, and had 
 made him one of his wild huntsmen. Many a benighted 
 traveller has seen him rushing past, mounted on his coal-black 
 steed. The people of Lausitz and other parts of Germany 
 talk of him as Dietherbernet, and see him in the Furious Host 
 even to this day.
 
 PART SECOND. 
 THE N I BE LUNG AND KINDRED LEGENDS. 
 
 GUDRUN. BEOWULF.
 
 THE NIBELUNG HERO. 
 
 I, 
 
 SIEGFRIED'S YOUTH. 
 
 ,NCE upon a time there 
 was a noble prince in 
 the Netherlands called Sieg- 
 fried (Sigfrit, Siegwart, or Si- 
 gurSr). His father, Sigmund, was descended from the glorious 
 race of the Wolfungs, who traced their lineage back to Wodan. 
 His mother, Sigelinde, was of equally high birth. They both
 
 230 THE Nl BE LUNG HERO. 
 
 rejoiced in the early signs of strength and activity displayed by 
 their son, and hoped that when grown to man's estate, his heroic 
 deeds might gain him glory and renown. 
 
 The boy, however, soon became aware of his wonderful strength, 
 and showed a haughty, unbending spirit. He would suffer no 
 contradiction : he beat his playfellows black and blue when they 
 displeased him, even those among them who were much bigger 
 than he. The older he grew, the more he was hated by all the 
 other boys, and the more anxious his parents became regarding 
 his future. 
 
 At last Sigmund told the queen that he only knew of one way 
 to bring the young rebel under rule, and that was to apprentice 
 him to the smith, Mimer, who lived in the neighbouring forest, 
 and who was a strong and wise man, and would teach the boy how 
 to forge the weapons he should one day wield as a warrior. The 
 queen gave her consent, so the father took the necessary steps. 
 
 When the smith heard the whole story, he declared himself 
 ready to undertake the task assigned him, for he had a strong 
 belief in the pacifying effects of hard work. Everything went well 
 for a time. One year passed on after another, till the prince grew 
 almost to man's estate. But labour in the smithy was irksome to 
 him, and when his comrades set him right, he beat them, threw 
 them down, and, on one occasion, went so far as to drag the best 
 smith among them Wieland by the hair to his master's feet. 
 
 " This will not do at all," said Mimer ; " come here and forge 
 yourself a good sword." 
 
 Siegfried was quite ready to do so. He asked for the best iron 
 and the heaviest hammer, which was such a weight that it took 
 both hands to wield it. Mimer drew the strongest bar of iron out 
 of the forge, glowing red, and laid it on the anvil. Siegfried 
 swung the hammer with one hand, as though it had been a play- 
 thing ; but when it came down upon the iron the blow was like
 
 SIEGFRIEDS YOUTH. 231 
 
 a clap of thunder, the house shook to its foundation, the iron 
 shivered into splinters, and the anvil sank a foot deep into the 
 ground. 
 
 " This will never do," said the master as before ; " we must try 
 another plan, my boy, if you are to make yourself a suitable 
 weapon ! Go to the charcoal-burner in the pine wood, and fetch 
 me as much of his charcoal as you can carry on your strong 
 shoulders. Meanwhile I shall prepare the best iron to make you 
 a sword, such as never yet was possessed by any warrior." 
 
 Siegfried was so pleased to hear this, that picking up the largest 
 axe he could find, he set out into the forest. It was a beautiful 
 spring day. The birds were singing, and the grass was studded 
 with violets and forget-me-nots. He plucked a bunch of the 
 flowers, and stuck them in his leather cap, from a half- conscious 
 feeling that they might perhaps bring him good luck. He went 
 on further and further, till he reached the middle of a dark pine 
 forest. Not a bird was to be seen ; but the gloomy silence was 
 broken by a gurgling, hissing, and roaring, that might easily have 
 affrighted a less daring spirit. He soon found the reason of the 
 noise. A dismal swamp lay before him, in which gigantic toads, 
 snakes, and lind-worms were disporting themselves. 
 
 "I never saw so many horrible creatures in my life," said 
 Siegfried ; " but I will soon stop their music" 
 
 So saying, he picked up dead trees and threw them into the 
 morass, till he had completely covered it After which, he 
 hastened on to the charcoal-burner's house. Arrived there, he 
 asked the man to give him fire that he might burn the 
 monsters. 
 
 "Poor boy," said the charcoal-burner, "I am very sorry for 
 you ; but if you go back the way you came, the great dragon will 
 come out of his cave and make but a single mouthful of you. 
 Smith Mimer is a faithless man ; he came here before you, and
 
 232 77/: NIBELUNG HERO. 
 
 told me that he had roused the worm against you, because you 
 were so unmanageable." 
 
 " Have no fear, good man," answered Siegfried ; " I shall first 
 slay the worm, and then the smith. But now give me the fire, 
 that I may burn the poisonous brood." 
 
 The lad was soon back at the swamp. He set fire to the dry 
 wood with which he had covered it, and let it blaze. The wind 
 was favourable, and fanned the flames to a great fire, so that the 
 creatures were all burnt up in a short space of time. The lad then 
 went round the dismal swamp and found a small rivulet of hot fat 
 issuing from it. He dipped his finger in it, and found, on with- 
 drawing it, that it was covered with a horn-like skin. " Ah," he 
 thought, " this would be useful in war." He therefore undressed, 
 and bathed his whole body in the liquid fat, so that he was now 
 covered with horn from head to foot, except in one place, between 
 his shoulders, where a leaf had stuck to his skin. This he did not 
 discover until later. He dressed himself again in his leather 
 garments, and walked on, his club resting on his shoulder. 
 Suddenly the dragon darted out upon him from its hiding-place ; 
 but three good blows of his club slew the monster. He then went 
 back to the smithy to take vengeance on the master smith and his 
 comrade. At sight of him, the men fled affrighted into the forest, 
 but the master awaited the youth's arrival. At first Mimer tried 
 the effect of flattering words ; but finding they were vain, he took 
 to his sword. Siegfried then dealt him one mighty blow, and had 
 no need to strike again. 
 
 Having done this, the lad went into the smithy, and with great 
 patience and care forged himself a sword, whose blade he har- 
 dened in the blood of the lind-worm. Then he set out for his 
 father's palace. The king sharply rebuked him for his evil deed 
 in slaying the master smith, who was so good a subject, and so 
 useful to the whole country. And the queen, in her turn, re-:
 
 SIEGFRIED'S YOUTH. 233 
 
 preached him with many tears, for having stained his hands with 
 innocent blood. Siegfried, sobered by his father's reproof, and 
 softened by his mother's tears, did not try to excuse himself; but, 
 falling at the queen's feet and hiding his face in his hands, he 
 said the sight of her tears cut him to the heart, and for the future 
 he vowed that his deeds should be those of a gentle knight. Then 
 the hearts of the parents were comforted. 
 
 From that time forward Siegfried was changed. He listened 
 to the advice of men of understanding, and strove to learn how 
 to act wisely and well. Whenever he felt one of his old fits of 
 passion coming over him, he thought of his mother's tears and 
 his father's reproof, and conquered the evil spirit that threatened 
 to master him. The expectations of the people were great re- 
 specting him : they were sure that in him their nation had found 
 a new hero. And then, he was so handsome and graceful, that 
 the women admired him as much for his looks as the men did for 
 his prowess. 
 
 YOUNG SIEGFRIED SAILS TO ISENLAND. 
 
 His father and mother were so proud of him, that they longed 
 for the day when his name and fame should be hailed with 
 applause in every land. 
 
 The king at length deemed that the time was come to give 
 Siegfried and his comrades, and many young nobles of his own 
 and other lands, the sword and armour that marked a warrior. 
 This investiture was in those days a ceremony of great import- 
 ance, and took up the same place in a young man's life as the 
 ceremony of knighthood in later times. The solemn investiture 
 was succeeded by feats of arms and trials of skill. Siegfried was 
 victorious in all, and, at the end of the day, the populace shouted : 
 " Long live young Siegfried, our king ; long may he and his worthy 
 father rule over us 1 "
 
 i34 THE NIBELUNG HERO. 
 
 But he signed to them, and said, " I am not worthy of such high 
 honour. I must first win a kingdom for myself. I will entreat 
 my noble father to allow me to go out into the world, and seek 
 my fortune." 
 
 When the warriors were all assembled at the feast in the royal 
 hall, Siegfried did not take his place at the upper end of the 
 table beside his father, but modestly seated himself among the 
 young warriors who had still their names to make. Some of the 
 party began to talk of distant Isenland, the kingdom of the 
 beautiful and warlike Brunhild, who challenged all her wooers to 
 do battle with her, thereby slaying many. 
 
 They talked of the land of the Nibelungs, learned in magic ; of 
 the Drachenstein, where a flying dragon, of fiendish aspect, had 
 taken up its abode. 
 
 Others, again, talked of the lovely princess at Worms on the 
 Rhine, who was carefully guarded by her three brothers and 
 by her uncle, strong Hagen. 
 
 " Oh, how pleasant it must be to see such marvels, and to 
 seek out adventures ! " cried Siegfried, and approaching his father, 
 he asked his permission to go out and see the world. 
 
 The king understood his desire, for he had had an adventurous 
 youth himself; and promised to let him go, provided his mother 
 gave her consent. 
 
 It was pain and grief to the queen to part with her son, but 
 she at last permitted him to go, and one fine morning he set 
 out, dressed in a shining suit of armour, mounted on a swift 
 horse, and bearing the sword which he himself had made. His 
 spirits were high, and his heart full of hope, as is the case with 
 every youth of spirit who goes out into the unknown world to 
 seek his fortune. 
 
 He went northwards in the direction of Isenland. On reaching 
 the sea-shore, he found a vessel ready to start ; but the skipper
 
 SIEGFRIED'S YOUTH. 235 
 
 feared a storm, and only set sail at Siegfried's entreaty. After 
 a quick but tempestuous voyage, Siegfried landed, and went up 
 to the palace. 
 
 Queen Brunhild received him in the great hall, where many 
 warriors were assembled, each of whom had come determined 
 to woo the lady by great feats of arms. 
 
 On the following day the warriors assembled in the lists, 
 where Brunhild joined them before long. She was clad in full 
 armour, and looked as haughty and as beautiful as Freya, when 
 she led the Valkyrs of old to the battles of the heroes. 
 
 Siegfried gazed at her in astonishment. She was so much 
 taller and nobler looking than any of the maidens in her train, 
 who were armed equally with herself. He almost wished to join 
 the ranks of the wooers, and win her hand. He raised a stone 
 in sport, and flung it far beyond the lists ; then, turning to the 
 queen, took leave of her with all reverence, and returned again 
 to his vessel, saying to himself: 
 
 " I could never love her, she is too like a man. That maiden 
 must be shy and modest, gentle and kindly, who would gain 
 the heart of a brave warrior so utterly that he would think 
 nothing of spending his heart's blood in her service." 
 
 After a quick voyage, he resumed his journey by land, now 
 through rich and well-cultivated plains, and again through desert 
 lands, where wild beasts and robbers had their abode. He had 
 many a hard fight by the way, and slew all manner of giants 
 and monsters. The minstrels sang of his great deeds in cottage 
 and in castle, so that his name became known far and wide. 
 
 When he reached the land of the Nibelungs, the kings of that 
 country, Schilbung and Nibelung by name, asked him to divide 
 between them the treasure left them by their father Nibeling, 
 for they could not agree as to what was a fair division. In 
 payment for this service they offered him the good sword
 
 236 THE NI BE LUNG HERO. 
 
 Balmung, which was the handiwork of dwarfs, and was tempered 
 in dragon's blood. The hero divided the treasure with the 
 utmost fairness, yet the brothers were not satisfied. They told 
 him that they were sure he was keeping back the most valuable 
 ;hings for himself, and commanded twelve enormous giants to seize 
 him, and confine him in the hollow mountain where the treasure 
 was kept. The hero at once drew Balmung, and began slaying 
 one giant after another. Then the royal magicians chanted their 
 spells, and called up a thick mist ; a storm arose, and the 
 mountain trembled under repeated thunder-claps. All in vain. 
 The last of the giants fell, and finally the two brothers were 
 slain ; then the mist cleared away, and the sun shone full on 
 the victorious warrior. 
 
 When the Nibelung people saw the wonders that had been 
 done, they greeted Siegfried as their king. But even yet his 
 difficulties were not at an end. An avenger had arisen : this 
 was Alberich the dwarf. Well armed with enchanted weapons, 
 he came up against the bold warrior. He was now visible, now 
 invisible, according as he drew the cap of darkness over his helmet, 
 or took it off. After a long struggle, Siegfried overthrew him. 
 
 The dwarf was now in his power, but Siegfried could not kill 
 a defenceless foe. Alberich was so touched with this generosity 
 that he swore to be true to his victor : an oath he never broke. 
 After this, no one disputed the hero's right to the land of the 
 Nibelungs. He was recognised as king by the whole people, 
 and also became possessed of all the treasures in the hollow 
 mountain, and of Alberich's cap of darkness by reason of his 
 ictory over the dwarf. 
 
 When Siegfried had reduced the whole kingdom to order, and 
 appointed proved men to be governors of the provinces, he 
 chose out twelve noble warriors to be his trusty companions. 
 The treasure furnished him with rings and chains of silver and
 
 SIEGFRIEDS YOUTH. 237 
 
 gold with which to enrich his followers. The whole band 
 looked like an assemblage of kings under the lead of some 
 yet mightier chieftain. 
 
 He and his men now set out on their journey homewards, 
 and reached the Netherlands without further adventure. The 
 king and queen were overjoyed to see their son, of whom they 
 had for a long time heard nothing but indistinct rumours. 
 Siegfried remained at home for many days to rest and recover 
 from his weariness. He often passed hours sitting at his mother's 
 feet, as when he was a little boy, and telling her of his hopes 
 and longings. His confidence and trust in her made her very 
 happy. But when he stood before her in all the panoply of war, 
 her heart beat high with pride that she had such a hero for a son. 
 
 Pleasant as it was to be at home again, Siegfried could not 
 long be contented with idleness ; his soul panted to be out in 
 the battle of life, where alone a man preserves his strength of 
 mind and body. He told his father that he wished to go to 
 Worms, in the Rhineland, and try his fortune with the great 
 warriors of Burgundy. 
 
 The king's face clouded when he heard this. " My son," he 
 said, " do not go to Burgundy, for there dwell the boldest 
 warriors in the whole world. No hero has as yet withstood 
 them. There are grim Hagen, strong Ortewin of Metz, and 
 King Gunther, with his brother Gernot. They all unite in 
 guarding the lovely maiden Chriemhild, whom many a brave 
 man has wooed, only to lose his life." 
 
 "Ha! That is a good story!" cried bold Siegfried. "These 
 mighty warriors shall yield me their kingdom, and the lovely 
 maid as well, if she be pleasing in my eyes. With my twelve 
 Nibelungs at my back, I have no fears about the fighting." 
 
 The king's remonstrances and the queen's entreaties were alike 
 in vain. They were obliged to consent to their son's undertaking 
 this adventure.
 
 II. SIEGFRIED IN BURGUNDY. 
 
 'T^HE lovely maiden Ghriemhild, who lived in the land of 
 * Burgundy, was the daughter of King Dankrat and his wife, 
 the Lady Ute. Her father had long been dead ; but his three 
 sons, Gunther, Gernot, and the boy Giselherr, nicknamed " The 
 Child," regarded their beautiful sister as the costliest pearl in their 
 crown. The royal brothers were surrounded by brave warriors, 
 to whom fear was unknown. First among these was grim Hagen 
 of Tronje, un-beautiful of face, and one-eyed, but known and 
 feared, both in the land of the Teuts and in that of the Latins. 
 He enjoyed great honour for another reason, that he was the uncle 
 of the kings. After him came his brother, the marshal Dank- 
 wart ; Ortewin of Metz ; the Margraves Gere and Eckewart ; 
 Rumolt, the chief cook ; Volker of Alzeyen, the faithful minstrel ; 
 Sindolt, the cup-bearer ; and Hunolt, the steward. These and 
 many other brave men, too numerous to mention, served the kings, 
 and guarded their interests. 
 
 Young Chriemhild lived very much alone. She loved to wander 
 about the garden and under the shady trees, and hated all sights 
 and sounds of war. Her brothers once persuaded her to go out 
 hunting with them ; but a roe-deer fell dead at her horse's feet, 
 and the sight so distressed her, that she went straight home, and 
 
 could never be induced to go out hunting again. 
 
 338
 
 SIEGFRIED IN BURGUNDY. 239 
 
 One day the queen entered her daughter's room at an early 
 hour, and seeing her look sad and troubled, she asked what ailed 
 her. 
 
 Chriemhild answered : "I dreamed that I had brought up a 
 noble falcon, and had grown very fond of it ; but once, when I 
 let it fly up among the cliffs, two eagles attacked and killed it 
 before my very eyes." 
 
 " My child," said the mother gravely, " the falcon is some noble 
 warrior, whom you will learn to love with all your heart ; and 
 the eagles are two false men, who will seek to compass his death 
 by cunning. May God give you strength and wisdom to turn 
 their plans to nought ! " 
 
 " Mother ! " said Chriemhild, " do not speak to me of men. I 
 fear to go amongst them. If there were no men on the earth, 
 there would be no more wars or bloodshed." 
 
 " Who knows ? " answered her mother, laughing. " Women often 
 shed more blood, and cut deeper with their tongues, than any man 
 with his sword. But the time will come when you will learn to 
 love some hero, and will become his wife and chief admirer." 
 
 " Never," cried the maiden in a voice of horror. " Mother, 
 you terrify me even more than my dream." 
 
 Ute and Chriemhild went down to the garden. They had not 
 been there long when they heard the sound of horses prancing 
 in the court, and horns blowing. The queen went to see what 
 was going on, and soon came back to teli her daughter of the 
 arrival of some strange warriors in shining armour, and mounted 
 on beautiful horses. She asked the girl to come and help her 
 to receive the guests. But Chriemhild refused to do so, and 
 Ute returned to the palace alone. Meanwhile Gunther and his 
 brothers had heard of the coming of the strangers. No one knew 
 who they were, so Hagen was sent for, and he at once recognised 
 Siegfried. He further advised his nephew to receive the hero
 
 240 THE NIBELVNG HERO. 
 
 and his men with all honour, and to enter into friendly alliance 
 with them. 
 
 Gunther resolved to follow Hagen's counsel ; but Siegfried said 
 that he had come to prove to his own satisfaction whether the 
 Burgundian warriors were as great in battle as he had always 
 heard. He offered them the Nibelung realm and treasure as the 
 prize of victory, and said that for his own part he was ready to 
 defend himself against double or threefold the number of his own 
 party, if the kings of Burgundy would venture their kingdom 
 against his. Bold Ortewin and other Burgundian heroes answered 
 that it was not their habit to fight strange warriors for aught else 
 than their armour and horses. And King Gernot came forward 
 and said, 
 
 " Lord Siegfried, we want neither your goods nor your blood ; 
 I rather desire to receive you as an honoured guest, and become 
 your friend and ally, if you will also be ours." So saying, he 
 held out his hand, which Siegfried clasped in his, as he replied : 
 
 " God be my witness that I will be your faithful friend and 
 ally, and if you ever come to see me, I shall greet you as honoured 
 comrades." 
 
 The Nibelungs then followed their hosts into the banqueting 
 hall, where many a toast was drunk to the success of the new 
 alliance. 
 
 Siegfried enjoyed his stay in the land of roses and vineyards. 
 The days passed happily in hunting or jousting ; but a great 
 longing to see fair Chriemhild soon took possession of him, and 
 grew stronger every day, for he was always hearing of her 
 sweetness, modesty, and gentleness qualities that had ever pleased 
 him best in women. 
 
 Chriemhild had also heard of him ; but the only time she had 
 ever seen him was once when curiosity led her to peep out of 
 a high window, when he was jousting in the court below. He
 
 SIEGFRIED IN BURGUNDY. 241 
 
 seemed to her like the white god Balder, of whose beauty and 
 glory her forefathers had told many a tale. At that very moment, 
 he looked up, and she shrank away, fearing lest he had seen her ; 
 but he had not. Chriemhild could not understand herself. She 
 hoped that he would stay at Worms she, who had never before 
 cared who came or went. 
 
 An embassy from Daneland and Saxonland arrived at Worms. 
 The kings Ludegast and Liideger declared war against Burgundy, 
 if the kings of Burgundy did not at once pay them tribute, as 
 in olden times. 
 
 The tribute was refused, and the Burgundian army was called 
 out. Siegfried and his men joined King Gunther's forces. The 
 armies met. The Danes and Saxons numbered forty thousand ; 
 the Burgundian forces were much fewer. Each side fought 
 bravely, but Siegfried's performances were perhaps more wonderful 
 than any other man's. He took King Ludegast prisoner, and 
 brought him sorely wounded into camp ; handed him over to 
 the care of servants, and returned to the battle. The fight raged 
 on for hours. Grim Hagen was always in the front rank, and 
 near him were Volker, Sindolt, and Hunolt. Siegfried fought 
 by their side, always keeping the king of Saxony in sight. At 
 length he reached Liideger, and swung his sword over his head. 
 Then the Saxon king exclaimed, 
 
 " Ha, Siegfried of the Netherlands, the devil has given me into 
 your hands. I acknowledge myself your prisoner." 
 
 The battle was at an end, and the victors, covered with glory 
 and laden with booty, set out on their return to the Rhine. They 
 were received at Worms with great joy, and Siegfried's name was 
 in every mouth. King Gunther prepared a feast of victory, which 
 was to take place some weeks later, so that the wounded warriors 
 might be well enough to take part in it. Liideger and Ludegast 
 offered a large ransom for their liberty. While the Burgundians 
 
 Q
 
 242 THE NIBELUNG HERO. 
 
 were debating what sum it would be proper to demand, Siegfried 
 exclaimed : 
 
 "A king's head is neither to be bought nor ransomed for gold, 
 silver, or precious stones. It can only be won in love through 
 well-doing. Let the imprisoned kings go free, provided they 
 promise Burgundy their help in war." 
 
 When the days of feasting were over, the guests all took their 
 leave, and the Nibelung hero was about to do the same. But 
 Gunther, acting on Ortewin's advice, begged him to tarry a little 
 longer, for the women, and more especially his sister, Chriemhild, 
 wished to show him their gratitude. The hero's face lighted up 
 with pleasure, while he answered that in that case he would stay. 
 When the king went to the women to tell them what he wished 
 them to do, he felt at the bottom of his heart a little fear lest his 
 sister should refuse ; but, though she blushed, she consented to 
 do his will. 
 
 At the time appointed, she entered the hall at Lady Ute's side ; 
 and as she entered, her eyes and Siegfried's met. She said a 
 few words to him with her usual gentle courtesy, and his heart 
 beat with a feeling he had never known before. No one in the 
 crowd noticed the look that had passed between them except 
 Queen Ute, who rejoiced to see it, for she loved them both. She 
 contrived that the hero should sit next to her daughter at the 
 feast, and that he should afterwards join them in the garden, 
 while the other warriors sat over their wine.
 
 III. THE DRAGONSTONE. 
 
 OIEGFRIED returned to his lodging that evening feeling 
 *' happier than he had ever done before. Early next morning, 
 he rode out into the wood to hunt ; but his thoughts were so full 
 of Chriemhild, that he let the game pass by unheeded. Coming 
 back empty-handed in the afternoon, he found both town and 
 palace in great confusion. Warriors and citizens were shouting 
 and crowding in every open place. Queen Ute was weeping and 
 wringing her hands. Siegfried heard broken fragments of conver- 
 sation ; but no one answered his questions. At length he entered 
 the great hall, where he found Hagen, and asked him the mean- 
 ing of the disturbance, and whether some dreadful thing had 
 happened. 
 
 " That it has," replied Hagen ; " it could not be worse ; but what 
 is to be, must be, and, as men said in the olden time, ' what the 
 Norns have ordained must needs be best.' Hearken, Siegfried. 
 When we were in the tilt-yard this morning, we were startled by 
 hearing a rushing noise in the air, and the brightness of the sun 
 was darkened as if the wolf Skioll were devouring it. The 
 thing of terror that approached was a flying-dragon, of shape so 
 monstrous, that there is none like it in all the realm of Helle. 
 As it flew over our heads, we flung spears at it, but they bounced 
 off its horny skin like reeds. Next moment we heard a cry, and 
 
 43
 
 244 THE NIBELUNG HERO. 
 
 saw that the monster had caught up sweet Chriemhild from her 
 seat in the garden, and was bearing her off through the air so 
 rapidly that both were soon out of sight." 
 
 "And none of you went in pursuit!" shouted the Nibelung 
 hero, " cowards that you are ! " 
 
 Are you mad?" asked Hagen, unmoved. "Are you a bird, 
 that you can fly through wind and cloud ? " 
 
 " I shall seek out the monster," said Siegfried quietly ; " if I 
 have to wander through the whole world and Helle's realm itself, 
 I shall find the maiden, or my death." 
 
 He hastened away, mounted his horse, and rode by unknown 
 paths, leading he knew not whither. A ferryman set him across 
 the Rhine, and then he wandered about among the bare moun- 
 tains, but found no trace of the dragon's abode. At length he 
 reached a dark and trackless pine forest. The boughs of the trees 
 hung so low that he had to dismount, and lead his horse by the 
 bridle. As night came on, he threw himself under a tree, utterly 
 exhausted, leaving his steed to graze at will. 
 
 At midnight he heard the tramp of a horse's hoofs, and, looking 
 up, saw a faint red light approaching. The rider was a little 
 dwarf. On his head was a golden crown, the point of which was 
 formed of a shining carbuncle. The hero asked the dwarf to show 
 him the way out of the forest, and the little creature answered 
 that he was glad they had met, for no one knew the forest better 
 than he ; adding, that he was the dwarf-king Eugel, who lived 
 in the mountains hard by with his brothers, and thousands more 
 of their race. 
 
 " As for you," he continued, " I know that you are Siegfried 
 of the Netherlands. I have often seen you when I have been 
 going about the world with my cap of darkness on. You could 
 never have got out of the wild wood without my help, but would 
 infallibly have found your grave at the Drachenstein, where the
 
 THE DRAGONSTONE. 245 
 
 terrible giant Kuperan and the great dragon have taken up their 
 abode." 
 
 On hearing this, Siegfried shouted aloud for joy, and promised 
 the dwarf a rich reward, even to the whole Nibelung hoard, if he 
 would lead him to the Drachenstein. This Eugel refused to do, 
 fearing for the hero's life ; but when Siegfried threatened to slay 
 him, and at the same time seized him by the waist and shook him 
 till his crown fell off, he promised to obey. He replaced his 
 crown, and rode on first through the dark forest. At daybreak 
 they reached their destination. 
 
 " Knock at that door," said the little king. " It is there that 
 Kuperan lives. If you are hero enough to slay the giant, I and 
 mine will serve you, for now we are entirely in the power of that 
 monster." 
 
 Having thus spoken, he donned his cap of darkness, and 
 vanished. 
 
 Siegfried knocked at the door, at first gently, then louder and 
 louder, at the same time shouting to Kuperan to give him the 
 keys of the Drachenstein. Suddenly the door sprang open, the 
 giant rushed out in a tremendous passion, and asked in a thun- 
 derous voice what Siegfried meant by disturbing his morning's 
 sleep. With these words he hit out at the warrior with the pole 
 he had in his hands, which was taller than any of the tree tops, 
 and every blow of which rang like a castle bell. Siegfried sprang 
 aside to avoid the pole, and then the battle began. The giant 
 swung his pole with such good will that trees and rocks came 
 rattling down, but he never succeeded in touching his agile foe. At 
 length, holding his weapon in both hands, he brought it down on 
 the ground with such terrible force that it clove the earth three 
 fathoms deep. As he stooped to draw it out, the hero sprang 
 upon him and gave him three deep wounds. The giant, howling 
 with pain, slunk into his dwelling, and slammed the door behind
 
 246 THE N IB E LUNG HERO. 
 
 him. Siegfried battered at the iron door, but could not move it 
 He sought to force an opening with his good sword, and succeeded 
 in cutting some holes and crannies. He peeped into the inner 
 room, and saw the giant binding up his wounds, and then arming 
 himself in a suit of mail, that glistened like the sun when mirrored 
 in the sea. In another minute Kuperan came forth, and the 
 combat was renewed. After a long struggle, Siegfried had the 
 best of it, and the giant begged for his life, swearing to be a 
 true comrade and helper in the hero's fight with the dragon, who 
 could not be overcome without his aid. Upon this Siegfried gave 
 Kuperan his hand in friendship, bound up his wounds, and pro- 
 mised on his side to be his faithful comrade ; but as he entered 
 the cavern first, the false giant hit him so hard a blow on his 
 helmet that he fell senseless to the ground. Eugel, who was 
 watching all that passed, unseen, came up at the same moment 
 and flung his cap of darkness over the hero. While the monster 
 thought he had vanished through enchantment, and felt about 
 for him outside, Siegfried recovered from his swoon, sprang to 
 his feet, and tearing off the cap of darkness, cut down the giant 
 with the first blow. He once more forgave the traitor, but forced 
 him to go on before. 
 
 Faithless Kuperan again tried to murder the hero at the 
 entrance of the Drachenstein, and Siegfried would not have again 
 forgiven him if he had not needed his help to save the maiden. 
 The giant now brought out the key, unlocked the door, and led 
 the hero through many passages into a vaulted chamber, in which 
 a soft twilight reigned. Looking round, Siegfried saw her whom 
 he sought, looking pale and wan, but very beautiful. He called 
 her name, and hastened to her. He even dared to clasp her in 
 his arms ; he felt that she returned his kiss, and the consciousness 
 that he was loved made him feel so strong that he could have 
 fought all the powers of hell for her sweet sake. Chriemhild
 
 THE DRAGONSTONE. 247 
 
 wept bitterly, and entreated him to be gone before the dragon 
 came back ; but Siegfried asked for nothing better than to come 
 face to face with the monster, hew him in pieces, and save the 
 princess. The giant now told them that a sword was hidden 
 in the Drachenstein, so fashioned that it could cut through the 
 scales of a dragon. The warrior set out to fetch it, accompanied 
 by Kuperan and Chriemhild. Siegfried saw the hilt of a sword 
 on a ledge of rock just below the edge of the beetling cliff. He 
 stooped to pick it up, and at the same moment the monster 
 seized him, and strove to fling him over. A terrible struggle 
 began, in which the bandages came off the giant's wounds, his 
 blood streamed down, his strength failed him, and Siegfried flung 
 him into the depths below. A loud laugh of joy was heard, and 
 the victor, turning, saw King Eugel, who thanked him heartily 
 for having delivered the dwarfs from their cruel task-master. At 
 his command a number of mannikins appeared, bearing food and 
 wine to refresh the brave warrior after his exertions. He was 
 much in need of food, for he had not tasted a mouthful for two 
 days. The dishes Chriemhild placed before him, and the wine 
 she gave him, tasted better than anything he had ever eaten or 
 drunk before. 
 
 All at once a rushing sound was heard in the air, and a howl 
 of rage, so terrible, that all the dwarfs hid themselves in any 
 crannies of the rock that they could find, and the hero and 
 maiden were startled out of their momentary feeling of security. 
 Chriemhild entreated, prayed her lover to conceal himself; but 
 he was a stranger to fear, and refused to fly. The monster 
 approached like a storm-cloud, preceded by flames of fire. It 
 came nearer and nearer, dark, mysterious, gruesome. The 
 mountain trembled, and the little dwarfs, hiding in the fissures 
 of the rock, feared to be crushed to death. At Siegfried's 
 request, Chriemhild withdrew into the vaulted chamber. And
 
 248 THE N IB E LUNG HERO. 
 
 now the dragon fell upon the hero, tore away his shield with its 
 claws, and tried to seize him in its great teeth. The warriot 
 knew how to act ; he sprang aside, until the fiery breath that 
 issued from the dragon's yawning jaws had cooled. Then he 
 renewed his attack, now on the right, now on the left of the 
 monster, taking care to avoid its claws. 
 
 All at once he felt himself encircled by the dragon's tail. 
 He made a marvellous spring, freed himself, and sought to 
 attack the creature in front, where it was undefended by scales. 
 Upon this, the dragon caught him so tight within its curling 
 tail that he could not free himself. In sore distress, he seized 
 his good sword Balmung in both hands, and gave so hard a 
 blow that the rocks trembled ; but his object was attained. 
 The tail was cut off, and rolled thundering over the edge of 
 the cliff. A second blow, as hard as the first, divided the 
 monster in two. 'Tis true, the jaws still snapped at the hero, 
 but he, with the last effort of his strength, flung the pieces over 
 the cliff. Having done this, he fell back exhausted and half 
 stifled by the poisonous breath with which the dragon had so 
 long surrounded him. When he came to himself he found 
 Chriemhild's arms round him, and the dwarfs busily engaged 
 burning herbs and sprinkling essences to do away with the 
 baneful effect of the fetid odours with which the place was 
 impregnated. 
 
 The dwarfs now led the hero and the maiden into their 
 underg ound kingdom, where a feast was prepared for them. 
 While they rested, Eugel told them that the dragon had formerly 
 been a man of handsome figure and face, but that a mighty 
 enchantress, whom he had deserted, changed him into a dragon, 
 under which form he was to remain for the rest of his life, 
 unless a pure maiden should consent to marry him within six 
 years.
 
 SIEGFRIED S COMBAT WITH THE DRAGON
 
 THE DRAGONSTONE. 251 
 
 The dwarfs offered the warrior his choice of all their treasures. 
 He took certain things from them, placed them on his horse 
 beside Chriemhild, and, accompanied by Eugel, set out on his 
 return to Worms. When they reached the edge of the wild 
 forest, the dwarf-king looked at him sadly, and said : 
 
 " You must know, bold warrior, that your life will be short, 
 but glorious. You will fall by the envy of your own kindred. 
 But your fame will last through all ages, and your name 
 will be held in honour by the bards of every nation as long as 
 the human race exists on the earth." 
 
 Eugel then took leave of him, and returned to his home in 
 the forest When Siegfried and Chriemhild came down to the 
 banks of the Rhine, the hero took the treasure that the dwarf 
 had given him, and sunk it in the deep waters of the river. 
 
 " What is the use of gold to me ? " he said. " My life is to 
 be short, but glorious ! Hide it in thy bosom, mighty river ; 
 may it gild thy waves and make them gleam more brightly in 
 the sunlight! Gold does the devil's work in the hands of the 
 children of men ; it sharpens the assassin's dagger to strike 
 some unsuspecting heart perhaps mine. But as yet I live in 
 the light of day. I will rejoice in my glory, and in my love 
 for the sweetest maiden on the face of the earth." 
 
 He then rejoined Chriemhild, and called the ferryman to take 
 them across the Rhine, after which they pursued their way to 
 Worms, and were received there with great rejoicing. 
 
 Siegfried took the first opportunity when he found Gunther 
 alone to ask him for his sister's hand, and the king answered : 
 
 " I will give her to you with all my heart, if you will first 
 help me to win a high-born and most heroic woman to be my 
 wife. I mean Brunhild, the proud queen of Isenland, for whose 
 sweet sake many a wooer has already gone to his death." 
 
 " I know her well," replied Siegfried, " and have seen how
 
 252 THE NIBELUNG HERO. 
 
 she bears herself in the fray. She fights bravely and well, 
 yet I do not fear but that she will find her masters in you 
 and me. You will do well to prepare for an early start, that 
 we may get back before the end of summer." 
 
 Queen Ute and her daughter feared the result of the adven- 
 ture, but Siegfried told them to be of good courage. He 
 promised to stand by Gunther in life and death, even the proud 
 queen of Isenland would scarcely prove so hard an antagonist 
 as the monster of the Drachenstein. The king proposed to 
 take a thousand warriors in his train, but Siegfried dissuaded 
 him ; and when at last they started, the party of adventurers 
 consisted of Gunther, grim Hagen, Dankwart, and himself.
 
 IV. THE WOOING OF BRUNHILD 
 
 A FTER a favourable voyage they arrived at Isenstein, and 
 <** rode up to the palace. Servants hastened to meet them 
 and take their armour and horses. Hagen was at first un- 
 willing to give up his horse and armour, but he yielded when 
 Siegfried told him that such was the law and custom at Isenstein. 
 The warriors entered the hall where Brunhild awaited them, clad 
 in her royal robes. She greeted her guests with courtesy, and 
 told the Nibelung hero how glad she was to see him again, as 
 she had been told of his great deeds of valour ; adding that 
 she supposed he had come to enter the lists. Siegfried then 
 informed her that he had only come as the comrade of King 
 Gunther, his lord, who desired to try his fortune, and who was 
 well worthy of the high prize of victory. 
 
 " This is news to me ! " said the queen, " I always thought 
 you were your own man, and owed no allegiance to another." 
 
 Then, turning to King Gunther, she told him that she had 
 also heard of his great deeds, and asked him who were the 
 warriors that bore him company. Gunther answered with many 
 thanks for her kind reception, and explained who and what 
 his companions were. Brunhild laughed, and asked whether he 
 intended to fight aided by his three comrades. 
 
 " No, I alone am to fight," answered the king ; " I alone com- 
 pete for the great prize." 
 
 S3
 
 254 THE NIBELUNG HERO. 
 
 "Very well," said the lady, "the lists are open, prepare to do 
 your best." 
 
 The warriors were led into the castle court, where a wide space 
 was enclosed for the combat. The queen's serving-men sur- 
 rounded it, well armed. One of these proclaimed in a loud 
 voice : 
 
 " If any nobly-born warrior ventures to play the three-fold play 
 with the queen, and gains the victory, she and her kingdom shall 
 be his ; but if he is conquered, his head and wealth belong to 
 her." 
 
 Four grooms now dragged a great stone into the lists, which 
 the combatants were to " put " (throw). It was as large and heavy 
 as a millstone. Three other men brought in the huge broadsword 
 which the maiden was accustomed to fling. 
 
 " If the woman can play with such a thing as that," said Hagen, 
 " she is the devil's bride. No son of man can win her ! " 
 
 " If we only had our weapons," cried Dankwart, " neither the 
 king nor we need lose our lives." 
 
 " Be of good courage, King Gunther," said Siegfried, " I will fetch 
 my cap of darkness from the ship, and will help you without any 
 one seeing that I do so." 
 
 He hastened away whilst all eyes were fixed upon the queen, 
 who now entered the court, surrounded by her ladies, and clad 
 in full armour. 
 
 " Is it right, noble queen," said Hagen, " that your men should 
 be armed, while we remain defenceless ? " 
 
 " Bring the warriors their armour/' commanded Brunhild. Then 
 turning to Hagen, she continued : " But, for all that, you must 
 lose your lives here. If I conquer Gunther, as I have hitherto 
 conquered all who have entered the lists with me, your heads will 
 fall under the axe of yonder man." 
 
 The heroes looked in the direction in which she pointed, and
 
 THE WOOING OF BRUNHILD. 25$ 
 
 perceived a man clad in blood-red garments standing without the 
 barrier holding a sharp axe in his hand. 
 
 The trial of strength began. 
 
 Brunhild went up to the stone, lifted it in both hands, and flung 
 it the length of six fathoms. After which, she leapt forward with 
 one spring as light as a bird, making the point of her foot touch 
 the stone. This feat was greeted with applause. Then came a 
 silence as of death. Gunther advanced. Aided by Siegfried's 
 strength, he lifted the stone, weighed it in one hand, and flung it 
 a full fathom farther than the queen. It was a stronger hand than 
 his that helped him both in this and in the leap that followed, 
 which carried him beyond the stone. 
 
 In the first feat of strength, he was thus indisputably the con- 
 queror. 
 
 Then Brunhild rose with flashing eyes, and seized the heavy 
 spear with its sharp steel point. 
 
 " Now look to yourself, proud king," she cried, and flung the 
 weapon with such force that it crashed through his shield, and 
 would have laid him prostrate had not Siegfried come to his aid 
 by turning the point towards the edge of the shield instead of the 
 centre. Then tearing it out of the broken shield, he turned the 
 weapon so that the blunt end pointed at the queen, and guiding 
 Gunther's hand, Siegfried launched it at her. And immediately 
 Brunhild fell backwards, her chain armour rattling with the force 
 of her fall. 
 
 The combat was at an end, the victory won. Brunhild rose. 
 She stood calmly before the people, accepting her fate ; but who- 
 ever could have read her heart would have seen it full of shame, 
 anger, and a wild thirst for vengeance. The notables of Isenland 
 were summoned to appear at Isenstein within three days to take 
 the oath of allegiance to Gunther. Brunhild begged the Burgun- 
 dian warriors to remain her guests during that time. She asked
 
 25 6 THE NIBELUNG HERO. 
 
 where the Nibelung hero was, and when he stepped forward, and 
 said that he had been busied about the ship and the sailors, she 
 called him a faithless servant for not having been by while his 
 master played so dangerous a game. 
 
 A great feast was made in the hall. Many ladies were present, 
 but the queen remained in her own apartments. Gunther's feel- 
 ings were very mixed. He was ashamed not to have won the 
 victory single-handed, and yet he was pleased at having gained 
 his object. Hagen drained many a cup of wine, and watched the 
 laughing warriors around with a grim look on his stern face. 
 When the heroes of the Rhine were taken to their common cham- 
 ber, Hagen advised them to see that their weapons were at hand, 
 because he feared the queen was nursing some treacherous plan 
 against them. Bold Siegfried answered that he would at once 
 set out for the land of the Nibelungs, and return with an army 
 of good men and true. He made his way to the ship unperceived 
 in the darkness, and set sail for his own kingdom. Arrived there, 
 he went straight to the dwarf Alberich who guarded the treasure, 
 and desired him to call out a thousand well-armed men to go 
 with him to Isenland. His commands were obeyed in an in- 
 credibly short time, and he and his troops set out to join his 
 friends. On the third morning, he landed in front of the palace, 
 to the great joy of the Burgundians. The queen, on the other 
 hand, was anxious, not knowing what the arrival of so large a 
 force might mean. But Gunther comforted her by explaining that 
 Siegfried had brought over a band of his Nibelungs to do honour 
 to him, the king. 
 
 During the next few days everything was arranged for the 
 proper government of Isenland, and when Brunhild at length took 
 leave of her people and her mother's brother, who had been 
 appointed governor, there was hardly a dry eye to be seen. The 
 queen herself was not happy, for she felt sure she would never
 
 THE WOOING OF BRUNHILD. 257 
 
 see her home again ; but Gunther would not let her lose time, 
 being anxious to get back to Worms to celebrate his marriage. 
 
 When the travellers arrived in Burgundy, they were received 
 with great joy by every one. The Lady Ute welcomed Brunhild 
 as a daughter, and Chriemhild kissed her, and promised to be a 
 faithful sister to her. So the two maidens stood side by side : the 
 one, grand, beautiful, and mysterious as a starlight night ; the 
 other, sweet, gentle, and lovely as a May morning. None looking 
 at them could say which was the fairest. But Siegfried had no 
 doubt. He never moved from Chriemhild's side till they reached 
 the castle. 
 
 That evening, Gunther asked Siegfried and Chriemhild if they 
 were still of the same mind as before, and, finding that they 
 were, announced that he would make preparations for a double 
 wedding on the following day. 
 
 Brunhild sat at the feast that evening by Gunther's side, pale 
 and cold as marble, while Chriemhild sat smiling and whisper- 
 ing between her mother and her lover. 
 
 " King of Burgundy," said Brunhild, at last, " I cannot un- 
 derstand why you give your sister in marriage to one of your 
 vassals. She ought to be the wife of a great king." 
 
 " Say not so," answered Gunther ; " Siegfried is as much a 
 king as I am. He is king of the Nibelungs, and, after the 
 death of his father Sigmund, the whole Netherlands will belong 
 to him." 
 
 " It is a strange story," she said ; he told me himself that 
 e was your man." 
 
 " I will explain it all to you another time," replied Gunther ; 
 " we'll say no more about it just now." 
 
 The double wedding took place next day. When the cere- 
 mony was over, the old queen showed her daughter-in-law all 
 her possessions, and gave up to her all authority in the house. 
 
 R
 
 2 5 8 THE Nl BE LUNG HERO. 
 
 "Ah, mother Ute," said the young wife, "the Burgundiana 
 are rich in wealth and great in power; but they are poor in 
 wisdom and weak in action, otherwise King Gunther never 
 would have come to Isenland." 
 
 Without waiting for an answer, she turned and left the 
 room. 
 
 The feast was at an end, twilight had long fallen, and the 
 guests all sought their beds. Gunther and his queen went to 
 their private apartments. When he would have followed her 
 into her room, she barred the way, saying, 
 
 " This is no place for you ; you can find a more fitting room 
 elsewhere in the palace. If I permitted you to enter, I should 
 lose my great strength." 
 
 At first he tried entreaties, then threats, and lastly force. They 
 wrestled together, but she very soon mastered him, bound him 
 hand and foot, and left him lying outside the door. He did 
 not sleep much that night. 
 
 Next morning, before the household was stirring, the proud 
 queen loosed her husband's bonds, desired him to hold his peace, 
 and o respect her will in future. Gunther was sad at heart 
 the whole day long ; he looked at his wife with a feeling that 
 was almost horror, and often left the feast to walk alone in 
 the garden. Siegfried met him there, and asked what ailed 
 him. When he heard the strange story, he cried : 
 
 " Be comforted, dear comrade ; we have conquered this proud 
 woman before, and I think we shall get the better of her again. 
 I will follow you to-night, hidden under my cap of darkness, 
 when you take the queen to her room. Blow out the candles 
 and let me take your place. Then she shall have an opportunity 
 of trying her great strength against me." 
 
 "Ah, good comrade," said Gunther, "I fear for your life. We 
 did ill to bring her from Isenland to the sunny banks of the
 
 THE WOOING OF BRUNHILD. 259 
 
 Rhine. She is a demon, as Hagen says, and has her marvellous 
 strength from her friends the devils." 
 
 "Well," said Siegfried, "and even if a demon has taken up 
 his abode in her heart, it shall go hard but we'll get the better 
 of him. I shall be with you to-night in my cap of darkness." 
 
 The kings returned to the feast, Siegfried looking as cheerful 
 as ever, while Gunther was bowed down by manifold cares and 
 anxieties. At midnight Gunther led Brunhild to her room, 
 blew out the candles, and immediately Siegfried took his place. 
 The wrestling began, Brunhild pushed him between the wall 
 and a cupboard, and tried to bind him with her girdle. She 
 squeezed his hands till the blood spirted from under his nails. 
 Such a wrestling-match was never seen between a man and 
 a maid. He used all his hero-might, and pressed her into a 
 corner of the room with such force, that, shivering and moaning, 
 she entreated him not to kill her, and she would be an obedient 
 wife. No sooner did Siegfried hear this than he slipped softly 
 away, leaving Gunther alone with the queen. 
 
 The wedding festivities lasted eight days longer; then the 
 guests took leave of their host, and went home with many 
 rich gifts. Siegfried and his wife also made ready for their 
 departure. The hero refused to take any dowry with his wife, 
 for, in his opinion, the Nibelung treasure was wealth enough. 
 
 It was on a beautiful day that the travellers reached the 
 Netherlands. King Sigmund and Queen Sigelinde came out to 
 meet them, and received them with great joy. An assembly of 
 the people was summoned to meet, and after a short speech 
 from the throne, the old king and queen placed their crowns on 
 the heads of Siegfried and Chriemhild. The people shouted, 
 
 Long live our young king and queen ! May they reign as 
 long and as happily as their forerunners !" 
 
 It seemed as if the people's wish were to be realized, for
 
 260 
 
 THE NIBELUNG HERO. 
 
 years passed on, and all went well with the royal family. Queen 
 Sigelinde had the great joy of holding a grandson in her arms. 
 The child received the name of Gunther, in honour of his uncle 
 in the distant Rhineland. And King Gunther, who had a son 
 born about the same time, called the infant Siegfried. Not long 
 after this the old queen was taken ill and died. This made 
 a break in their domestic happiness ; but still there was peace 
 in the realm, and along its borders.
 
 V. TREASON AND DEATH. 
 
 T T'IGHT years, or thereabouts, had come and gone, when 
 -* ' messengers arrived from Burgundy inviting Siegfried 
 and Chriemhild to a great feast. They accepted the invitation, 
 and Sigmund determined to accompany them to Worms. 
 
 Brunhild had said one day to her husband, " King Gunther, 
 why does your brother-in-law Siegfried never come to our 
 court like the other vassals ? I should like to see both him 
 and your sister Chriemhild. Pray send, and command their 
 presence at court." 
 
 " I told you before," answered Gunther, somewhat nettled, 
 " that my brother-in-law is as mighty a king as I. He rules 
 over the Nibelungs and the Netherlands." 
 
 "How strange!" she replied. "You cannot deny that he 
 called himself your man when he was in Isenland." 
 
 " Oh ! he only said that to help me in my wooing," said 
 Gunther, feeling uncomfortable. 
 
 "You only say that," was her answer, "to make your sister 
 seem to have a higher rank. But however that may be, I should 
 very much like to see them both at our court." 
 
 "Very well," he answered kindly, "I will send messengers to 
 invite them to the Midsummer feast, and they will not refuse 
 
 to come." 
 
 961
 
 2 6 2 THE NIB E LUNG HERO. 
 
 He went away, and did as he had said. Brunhild remained 
 alone, plunged in thought. 
 
 " There he goes," she muttered. " The man that conquered the 
 once heroic maiden, who thought herself strong enough to brave 
 the battle like the Valkyrs of old. And he, what is he but a weak 
 reed, moved hither and thither by every breath of wind that 
 blows ? How much greater Siegfried is ! He is a hero with the 
 world at his feet. But then a vassal ! To be sure, none such 
 could dare to raise his eyes to the queen of Isenland. Had he 
 done so, she must have scorned him, and would scorn him to this 
 very hour." 
 
 Siegfried and his party came to Worms at the appointed time. 
 There was no end to the feasting, tilting, and minstrelsy. Old Sig- 
 mund renewed his youth again, and delighted to talk of old days 
 with the Lady Ute, whom he had known as a child. The young 
 queens were always together, at church, or at the feast, or else in 
 the gallery overlooking the tilt-yard. The only amusement to 
 which Chriemhild did not accompany her sister-in-law was the 
 chase. 
 
 One day when they were sitting together in the gallery watch- 
 ing the feats of agility and skill shown by the warriors, she said in 
 the joy of her heart : 
 
 "Is not my Siegfried glorious among warriors, like a moon 
 among the pale stars of night ? He is a royal hero." 
 
 " He is well deserving of your praise," replied Brunhild, " but 
 still he must yield the first place to my husband." 
 
 " Of a truth," answered Chriemhild, " my brother is a bold 
 warrior, but he does not equal my husband in feats of arms." 
 
 " Why," said Brunhild, " did not win he the prize at Isenstein, 
 while Siegfried remained with the ship ? " 
 
 " Do you mean to accuse the Nibelung hero, the dragon- 
 queller, of cowardice ? " cried the young wife indignantly.
 
 TREASON AND DEATH. 263 
 
 " He cannot stand so high as the king of Burgundy," answered 
 Brunhild, " for he is not his own man, but owes fealty to my 
 husband." 
 
 " You lie, proud woman ! " exclaimed Chriemhild, her face flush- 
 ing with anger, "you lie most insolently. My brother would 
 never have let me marry a man who was not free. Siegfried owes 
 no man allegiance, neither for Nibelungland nor yet for Nether- 
 land. The first kingdom he conquered with his own right hand, 
 the other is his inheritance ; and I, his queen, may hold my head 
 as high as you." 
 
 " Try it, chatterer ! I shall always walk into church before 
 you." 
 
 With these words Brunhild left the gallery. Chriemhild felt 
 both hurt and angry. It was the first grief that had ever befallen 
 her, and she could not got over it. She went to her rooms, put on 
 her costliest garments and the jewels that had come out of the 
 Nibelung treasure ; then, followed by her ladies and serving-men, 
 she walked to the minster. Brunhild was already there with her 
 train. She would have passed the proud woman silently, but the 
 latter exclaimed : 
 
 " Your husband is my husband's man, so wait here, and let your 
 queen go first" 
 
 " Better for you had you held your peace," said Chriemhild. 
 " A paramour go before a king's wife, indeed ! " 
 
 "Are you mad ?" asked Brunhild. " What do you mean ?" 
 
 " I will tell you what I mean," replied Chriemhild, " when I 
 come out of church ; " and passing before her enemy, she went in 
 to the house of God. 
 
 The proud queen stood still, weeping, at the entrance door. 
 Shame and anger struggled in her breast, and she could scarcely 
 wait till the end of the service. At length the door opened, and 
 Chriemhild appeared.
 
 264 THE NIB E LUNG HERO. 
 
 " Now," exclaimed Brunhild, " stop, and explain what you 
 meant by your insulting words, you wife of a bondsman." 
 
 " Wife of a bondsman ? " repeated Chriemhild, as though she 
 had not heard the other words. " Do you recognise the gold ring 
 on my hand shaped like a serpent ? " 
 
 " It is mine," said Brunhild. " Now I know who stole it 
 from me." 
 
 "Well," continued Chriemhild, "maybe you also remember the 
 silken girdle I wear round my waist, with its gold buckles and 
 precious stones. My husband gained both the ring and the girdle 
 that night, when he, not Gunther, conquered you." 
 
 Chriemhild went her way with the air of a hero on the day 
 of his greatest victory. The proud queen remained standing 
 where her sister-in-law had left her, her head bowed with shame. 
 She sent for her husband, and when he came, told him how she 
 had been insulted. And Gunther promised to ask Siegfried if 
 he had any knowledge of what had taken place. He received 
 his brother-in-law in the royal hall, and in the presence of many 
 of his bravest warriors. He told him what had chanced, and 
 immediately the Nibelung hero declared, in all good truth, that 
 he had never spoken of dishonour and of the queen in the same 
 breath ; adding that too much weight should not be laid on the 
 words that women spoke in anger. He then offered to clear 
 himself by a solemn oath. But Gunther interrupted him, saying 
 he knew him of old, and that his word was as good as his bond. 
 
 " Hearken, then, ye men of Burgundy," said the hero ; " you 
 see that I am pronounced innocent of causing the humiliations 
 your queen has endured, and indeed I have always regarded her 
 as a modest woman, and a good wife. And now, dear comrade 
 Gunther, chide your wife as I shall chide mine for what they 
 have this day done, that we may never again be brought to 
 dispeace by their idle chatter."
 
 TREASON AND DEATH. 265 
 
 He then turned and left the hall ; but many a Burguridian 
 felt that their queen had suffered a cruel wrong. 
 
 Next day Brunhild began to make preparations for her de- 
 parture to Isenland. The king and his brothers entreated her 
 to stay ; but she sat silent and immovable as a stone figure. 
 
 " We cannot let you go," cried the king. " We will at any 
 cost expiate my sister's thoughtless speech. What price do you 
 demand ? " 
 
 She rose, looked round the circle of warriors, and said in a 
 hoarse and hollow voice : 
 
 " Blood ! " 
 
 The Burgundians started, and stared at each other, none 
 daring to speak. She continued in the same tone : 
 
 " Not all the waters of the Rhine could wash the stain from 
 my honour. The heart's blood of yonder man alone can do it." 
 
 The uneasiness of the warriors increased ; but Hagen said : 
 
 " Are the bold Burgundians grown weak with age ? Have 
 they become children again ? I will explain the matter. Our 
 queen demands the heart's-blood of Siegfried. Ha! The words 
 seem to terrify you ! " 
 
 The Burgundians exchanged whispers about Siegfried's strength, 
 how it were certain death to fight with him, and, moreover, that 
 he was innocent of all blame in the matter. 
 
 Then grim Hagen turned to Brunhild, and said, "Lady, it was 
 against my advice that Gunther went to woo you in Isenland ; 
 but now that you are our queen, your honour shall be safe in 
 our hands. I will satisfy your desire." 
 
 " But," exclaimed young Giselher, " it is not the way in Bur- 
 gundy to return evil for good. Siegfried has always been true 
 to us, and I, at least, will not be false to him." 
 
 Hagen tried to persuade Volker, the minstrel, to help him in 
 the work of assassination, for Siegfried was not a man they could
 
 266 THE NIBELUNG HhRO. 
 
 attack openly. But Volker refused. Ortwin offered himself in 
 his stead, saying that the mere fact of Siegfried having given 
 the ring and girdle to his wife was an insult to the queen of 
 Burgundy, and must therefore be revenged. 
 
 Gunther here broke in passionately, " Such a murder would 
 cast dishonour on all Burgundy, and it is my duty as the king 
 to prevent it." 
 
 " Lord of the Rhine," cried Brunhild, rising from her seat, " I 
 give you three days to think of it. After that, I either go to 
 Isenland, or have my revenge." With these words she left the 
 room. 
 
 " No weapon can hurt him," said the Margrave Gere, " for he 
 has bathed in dragon's blood, and is only vulnerable in one 
 place, on which a lime-leaf fell when he was doing it." 
 
 " If he guesses what we are after," added Sindolt, " he and 
 his thousand Nibelungs will conquer the kingdom." 
 
 " I will do it by cunning," said grim Hagen. 
 
 The king could not make up his mind one way or the other. 
 He would and would not. And when the warriors separated, 
 nothing was settled. Three days later, when Gunther saw that 
 the queen's mind was fully made up, he consented with a sigh 
 to let his uncle Hagen try his plan. 
 
 About this time heralds came from Liidegast and Liideger 
 to declare war against Burgundy. Siegfried at once promised to 
 help his brothers-in-law to defend the country. The ladies were 
 all busy preparing the jerkins their husbands were to wear. One 
 day when Chriemhild was thus employed, Hagen entered her 
 room. He bade her be of good cheer, because the hero having 
 bathed in dragon's blood was invulnerable. 
 
 "Good friend," she answered sadly, "my Siegfried is so bold 
 that he often pushes into the midst of the enemy, and, in such a 
 case, he might easily be wounded in his only vulnerable point."
 
 TREASON AND DEATH. 267 
 
 Hagen begged her to embroider a little cross upon his jerkin 
 to mark the place, so that he might always cover it with his 
 shield. She promised to do so, and immediately worked a little 
 cross with silver thread upon the garment. Her anxiety was 
 needless, for the next day fresh messengers came to say that 
 the kings had changed their minds regarding war, and were now 
 determined to be true to their old alliance. Soon after this, 
 Gunther made preparations for a great hunt to be given in 
 honour of the continued peace. On the morning on which it 
 was to be held, Chriemhild entreated her husband to remain at 
 home. She had had such terrible dreams the night before, that 
 she feared for his life. He laughed at her, and then kissed 
 her, saying that a bad dream would be a foolish reason for 
 keeping away from the hunt. 
 
 " Besides that, be comforted, dear wife. What harm can happen 
 to me ? I shall be amongst faithful friends and comrades all 
 day long. I shall take Balmung and a sharp spear with me, and 
 I should like to see him who would dare withstand me." 
 
 He kissed her again, and hastened away. She ran to the 
 window, and watched him until he disappeared from sight. The 
 morning passed very pleasantly, and then the warriors sat down 
 to their mid-day meal, which was spread out on the grass. There 
 was food in plenty, but the wine ran short. Hagen explained 
 that he had sent the wine on to another place, thinking it was 
 there they should have dined ; but he told his friends of a 
 cool spring under a lime-tree not far off, and offered to run a race 
 there with Siegfried. The latter laughingly accepted the chal- 
 lenge, adding that he would carry his sword and hunting-tackle, 
 while Hagen went empty-handed, that the race might be more 
 equal. The two warriors ran across the meadow ground towards 
 the linden, and, as they ran, the field flowers tried to stop bold 
 Siegfried, the branches of the trees beckoned him to go back,
 
 268 THE NIBELUNG HERO. 
 
 and the birds in the linden sang sadly as though they would 
 say, " Turn back, noble hero, the traitor is behind you." But 
 Siegfried did not understand the language of the flowers, trees, 
 and birds. He trusted his friend as himself. 
 
 " Here we are at last," he cried to the panting Hagen. " Here 
 is the clear spring ; see how the water sparkles. Let us rest under 
 the cool shade of the linden, until the king comes up, for he must 
 have the first draught." 
 
 He laid aside his sword and other weapons, and threw himself 
 on the flowery grass. 
 
 " How dull you look," he continued to Hagen, " and yet it is 
 such a bright and beautiful day, and we have had such good sport 
 this morning. Ah, here are the others. Come, Gunther, we are 
 waiting for you. You must have the first draught." 
 
 Gunther stooped and drank of the fresh, clear water of the spring, 
 then Siegfried followed him, saying with a laugh : 
 
 " I intend to have a real good drink. But do not fear, noble 
 friends, I shall leave you plenty. This spring is like mankind : 
 one part goes down into the earth, and another comes up into the 
 light of day, but it never ends." 
 
 "Very true," said Hagen; "what matters one life more or less ?" 
 
 The Nibelung hero bent over the well and drank thirstily, and, 
 as he did so, Hagen caught up his spear and plunged it into his 
 back, in the exact spot where Chriemhild had embroidered the 
 silver cross on his jerkin. He did it with such force, that the 
 point of the weapon went through his back and came out at his 
 chest. The wounded man sprang to his feet, and, not finding 
 his sword where he had put it, for it had been removed by one 
 of the conspirators, seized his shield and struck the murderer to 
 the ground. More he could not do. He sank back helplessly 
 amongst the flowers, which were dyed red with his blood. The 
 silver stream was also reddened, and all the sky was crimson with
 
 TREASON AND DEATH. 269 
 
 the light of the setting sun. It seemed as if nature were blushing 
 for the evil deed that had just been done. 
 
 Once more the hero feebly raised his beautiful head, and said, 
 looking round upon the Burgundians : 
 
 " Ye murderous hounds, what harm did I ever do you ? Had 
 I known of your treachery, ye had all lain dead at my feet. A 
 devil from hell must have tempted you to do this foul deed. 
 None of you ventured to meet me in open battle, and so you 
 fixed upon Hagen to do the cowardly deed. Your names will 
 be known until the latest times as those of cowardly traitors. 
 And now, King Gunther, dishonoured as you are through this 
 ill-deed, and weak of will, listen to the words of a dying man. 
 Protect my wife, she is your own sister, protect my poor wife 
 from Hagen." 
 
 These were the last words of the royal hero. 
 
 The warriors stood silently around him, their hearts filled with 
 sorrow and repentance. Gunther at length said : 
 
 " We will tell the people, who all loved the dead man, that he 
 was murdered by robbers. Chriemhild will never then hold us to 
 blame." 
 
 " Nay," said Hagen, " that may not be. I will not deny what 
 my own cunning and my own hand have done. Our queen has 
 now the expiation that she demanded, and your honour required. 
 Burgundy is safe from all enemies, for no man was ever Siegfried's 
 equal, or ever will be. What do I care for the complaints of a 
 people or for the tears of a woman ? Let us make a bier of 
 branches, that the dead warrior may be borne to Worms thereon. 
 Ha ! here is Balmung, his good sword ; to-day it shall do its 
 old master a last service, and its new master a first." 
 
 When the bier was made, the hunting party set out for Worms 
 in very different fashion from that in which they had started in 
 the morning. They did not arrive until late at night. It almost
 
 270 THE NIBELUNG HERO. 
 
 seemed as though the dead hero inspired both warriors and 
 serving-men with terror. None of them would carry him up the 
 staircase. Hagen called them cowardly loons, and raising the body 
 on his shoulders, carried it up, and laid it outside Chriemhild's door. 
 Next morning early the queen got up, and made ready to go to 
 the sanctuary. She called a chamberlain, and he, seeing a dead 
 man, whom he did not recognise in the half-light, lying in the 
 passage, told his mistress. She shrieked aloud : 
 
 " It is Siegfried ! Hagen has murdered him at Brunhild's 
 command ! " . 
 
 The servants brought lights, and they saw that she had spoken 
 truth. She threw herself on her husband's body, and with her tears 
 washed his face clear of the blood stains that marred it. There 
 he lay before her, pale, cold, and motionless ; never, never again 
 should she hear his voice ; never again. The word rhymed in her 
 ears, and seemed to madden her. She would willingly have died 
 with him, and have gone down to the grave ; or, as her fore- 
 fathers believed, have rejoined him in Freya's halls. 
 
 Old Sigmund, on hearing the news, uttered no word, but his 
 heart seemed broken. He kissed his son's wounds, as though he 
 hoped thereby to recall him to life. Suddenly he started to his 
 feet, and the old spirit awoke in his heart. 
 
 "Murder! Vengeance!" he cried. "Up, Nibelungs, up, and 
 avenge your hero." 
 
 He hastened into the court, and the Nibelungs, hearing his 
 words, crowded round him in full armour. The old man received 
 a sword and coat of mail from them, but his trembling hands were 
 too weak to hold them, and next moment he had sank uncon- 
 scious on the ground. The Burgundians were awaiting the assault 
 with arms in their hands, and grim Hagen was bringing up new 
 forces to help those already there. 
 
 The Nibelungs retired, gnashing their teeth.
 
 TREASON AND DEATH. 271 
 
 On the third day after this, the bier was taken to the sanctuary 
 to be blessed by the priest. The populace crowded into the church, 
 that they might give a last look at the dead hero, who had done so 
 much for Burgundy. Chriemhild stood by the uncovered coffin, 
 which was adorned with gold and precious stones. Her eyes were 
 tearless, but all could read her sorrow in her face and bearing. A 
 veiled woman passed close by amongst the crowd. Chriemhild 
 alone recognised her. 
 
 " Go, murderess," she cried, " do not approach him, lest the very 
 dead should bear witness against you." 
 
 The Unknown vanished in the crowd. 
 
 The Burgundian warriors now came to view the corpse, as 
 custom demanded. When Hagen came up, the wounds of the 
 dead man opened, and his blood flowed forth in a warm stream, 
 as at the hour of the murder. 
 
 " Do not stand there, assassin," said Chriemhild ; " do you not 
 see how the dead bears witness against you ? " 
 
 The bold warrior remained where he was. 
 
 " I do not deny what my hand has done. I only acted as I was 
 bound to act by my fealty to my liege lord and his queen." 
 
 If Chriemhild had had a sword in her hand, and had been 
 possessed of a man's strength, Hagen had scarcely quitted the 
 sanctuary alive. 
 
 Many gifts were made to the poor in honour of the dead 
 hero, who was buried on the fourth day. The grave-chamber 
 was richly decorated, and over it rose a high mound. Chriemhild 
 followed the coffin to its quiet resting-place. There the lid was 
 opened once more at her command. She kissed and wept 
 over the pale face of her husband. Her women at length had 
 to bear her away, for she would have remained there for ever. 
 Hagen was standing without, grim and unmoved as ever, and 
 said with his usual fatalism, " What has happened, must needs
 
 272 THE NIB E LUNG HERO. 
 
 have happened. The will cf the Norns must be done." The 
 queen did not hear him. She did not even see how Gunther, 
 Gernot, and many of the other warriors tried to hide their grief 
 and repentance. Her thoughts were all with the dead. 
 
 Sigmund and the Nibelungs prepared to return home. They 
 wanted to take Chriemhild with them, to guard her from the 
 false Burgundians, but she would not leave her husband's 
 grave, and only begged the old king and the Margrave Ecke- 
 wart to take care of her little son, and bring him up to be like 
 his father. For she said he was an orphan, fatherless, and per- 
 haps motherless. She had only one wish, which she whispered 
 in the old man's ear the wish for vengeance. Sigmund took 
 leave of none but the Lady Ute, who mourned for Siegfried 
 as if he had been a son of her own, and of Giselher, the 
 youngest of the brothers. Then he set out for the Nether- 
 lands. 
 
 Time passed on, and it almost seemed as though Chriemhild 
 had grown content, and had become reconciled to her brother. 
 Grim Hagen alone seemed to fill her with horror, and Brunhild 
 she also avoided. She, one day, told her brother that she wished 
 the Nibelung treasure to be brought up to Worms, as it was her 
 private property. Gunther rejoiced at this proof of her renewed 
 confidence in him, and at once consented to send for it Albe- 
 rich delivered the treasure to the messengers without hesita- 
 tion, and at length it arrived at Worms. The queen made 
 generous gifts to the people, and whenever she found a brave 
 warrior who possessed but few worldly goods, she would provide 
 him with all that was necessary for his calling, and with 
 daily pay besides. So that she gradually became complete 
 mistress of a small army, which grew daily larger, and more 
 powerful. 
 
 Hagen warned the kings of this; he told them that the Lady
 
 TREASON AND DEA TH. 273 
 
 Chriemhild meditated vengeance. He did not care for his own 
 life, he said, but the fair land of Burgundy must not fall into 
 her hands. The only way that he could see of preventing this 
 consummation would be for the kings to take the Nibelung 
 treasure under their own care. The brothers would not con- 
 sent. Gernot said that enough harm had been done to their 
 sister already without heaping small indignities on her. Once, 
 when his liege lords were absent, Hagen, who had always con- 
 sidered that prevention was better than cure, called his men 
 together, and fell upon the warders who had charge of the 
 Nibelung treasure. He carried off all that remained of it, and 
 sank it in the deep waters of the Rhine. It was of little use 
 that the kings heard of his ill-deed on their return ; it was of 
 little use that Chriemhild made indignant complaint: the deed 
 was done, and could not be undone. 
 
 "If you were not our uncle," said Gunther and Gernot, "this 
 should have cost you your life." 
 
 A short time afterwards, Hagen showed his nephews the 
 place in the Rhine where he had hidden the treasure, and 
 made them swear that none of them would betray its hiding- 
 place as long as one of them was alive. Chriemhild was sad 
 and sorrowful as before ; -she always sat with her mother, and 
 embroidered tapestry in which she depicted the scene of Bal- 
 dur's death, and showed how he was cruelly slain by his 
 brother Hoder, and how Nanna died of a broken heart, and 
 shared her husband's bier. But in Baldur every one recognised 
 the features of her hero, and in Nanna her own ; while Hoder 
 had the features, garments, and murderous weapon of grim 
 Hagen. She often held the needle suspended in her fingers, 
 and sat watching the picture thoughtfully. When the Lady 
 Ute asked her, on such occasions, " What are you thinking of, 
 my child ? " she would answer, " I was thinking of Hagen." 
 
 s
 
 THE NIBELUNGS' WOE. 
 
 I. 
 
 KING ETZEL'S WOOING. 
 
 OME welcome guests arrived 
 at Worms. Margrave Riidiger 
 of Bechelaren, surnamed "the 
 Good," came with some of his 
 warriors to the Burgundian court. Gunther, Gernot, and Hagen 
 were old acquaintances of his, and he had often held young 
 Giselher on his knees as a child. Now that he came to the 
 house of mourning, his gentle, noble spirit had such an effect 
 on Chriemhild that she would sometimes accompany her mother
 
 KING ETHEL'S WOOING. 275 
 
 to the hall, and listen to the Margrave with a gentle smile, 
 such as had not been seen on her face since her hero's death. 
 But if Brunhild or Hagen entered, she would go away at 
 once. 
 
 Days and weeks passed on, and at last Gunther said to his 
 guest that he fancied the Margrave had not come merely for 
 the pleasure of renewing an old acquaintance, but had some- 
 thing on his mind. Then Rudiger answered : 
 
 " Well, King Gunther, I will tell you what brings me here. 
 You know that good Queen Helche, the faithful helpmeet of 
 my liege lord King Etzel, died some years ago, and that her 
 sons were slain in battle by Wittich. The king of the Huns has 
 long sat lonely in the wide halls of Etzelburg, but he has now 
 made up his mind to marry again. He consulted me on the 
 subject, and I advised him to try and win the hand of the noble 
 Lady Chriemhild, your sister and the widow of heroic Siegfried. 
 If you will give your consent to the match, I am empowered to 
 say that she shall be queen of the Huns." 
 
 "She is no longer under my charge," was the answer; "she 
 is queen of the Nibelungs, and of the Netherlands, and I fear 
 that she will not be willing to marry again." 
 
 " I will take her the good news," said Giselher, " and mother 
 Ute will advise her to do as we wish." 
 
 The young warrior immediately rose, and went to the women's 
 apartment. He found his sister busied as usual with her embroid- 
 ery. He told her that it was time she should give up grieving 
 so much for her dead husband, and reminded her that she was 
 still young, and might yet be happy. Then he told her what 
 Rudiger had related of Etzel's court, its greatness and its glory, 
 and finally told her of Etzel's wooing. But Chriemhild answered 
 with solemn firmness, that she would not leave the grave-mound 
 in which all she loved was buried.
 
 276 THE NI BE LUNGS' WOE 
 
 Then mother Ute spoke. " If you will be Etzel's queen, my 
 child, you will be the most powerful of women." 
 
 " Most powerful of women," repeated the daughter thoughtfully. 
 " Look, Giselher," she went on, pointing to her embroidery, " you 
 know whom that hero is intended to represent ? " 
 
 He shook his head, and she added, " It is Wall, the Avenger, 
 of whom our fathers said that he revenged Baldur, and sent dark 
 Hoder to his own place." 
 
 " These are old wives' stories that are forgotten now," answered 
 Giselher. " Let us speak of him in whose name good Rudiger 
 is come to woo you." 
 
 "Yes but what if it were to be fulfilled ? " she said, "perhaps 
 Ask the Margrave to come to me, that I may hear his wooing 
 myself." 
 
 Giselher left the room, and the Lady Ute went out also, leaving 
 Chriemhild alone, as she requested. 
 
 "Siegfried," said the young queen, "it is for your sake that 
 I leave your resting-place, from whence you have so often come 
 to me, in waking and in sleep, and pointed to your wounds 
 those gaping, bleeding wounds, that will never close until it is 
 granted me to send grim Hoder down to dark Hella." 
 
 RUdiger appeared, and in courteous fashion wooed the queen 
 in his master's name ; but not till he had promised, in the name 
 of the god Irmin, that she should have men to fight her battles 
 when she needed them, did she consent to go to the land of 
 the wild Huns, and to become Etzel's wife. 
 
 The Burgundians all rejoiced when Rudiger told them the 
 good news, the three royal brothers especially, for now, they 
 thought, their sister would again be happy. But Hagen came 
 to them, and said, 
 
 "What are you thinking of, that you thus call the lightning 
 down on our heads? Do not give your sister to the kin^ of
 
 KING ETZEL'S WOOING. 777 
 
 the Huns. Between the widow of Siegfried and us, such friend- 
 ship alone can exist as that between fire and water. Either must 
 the one be quenched, or the other fly off in steam. It is a 
 childish action to supply one's enemy with a sword to cut off 
 one's head." 
 
 But the brothers refused to listen to his warnings. Preparations 
 now went on apace for the journey to Etzelburg. Ambassadors 
 were sent to the Nibelungs and to the Netherlands to tell them 
 of the queen's contemplated marriage. They returned with a 
 numerous company of warriors and servants. At length all was 
 ready, the kings went with their sister as far as the Danube, 
 where they took leave of her, and Margrave Riidiger took their 
 place as leader of the travelling party. At the borders of the 
 land, King Etzel with a large following awaited the queen's 
 arrival. His face lighted up with pleasure when he saw the 
 pale, beautiful countenance of the Lady Chriemhild. He told 
 her that she should have full power over his treasures and his 
 lands, that, in short, she should be his queen. She answered 
 that she would be a faithful and obedient wife, but that her love 
 was buried with Siegfried. The king paid no attention to the 
 last words. He made sure of winning her love through kindness 
 and affection. And so they went on together to Etzelburg. 
 The marriage festivities lasted a fortnight, and were celebrated 
 in the usual way. 
 
 Chriemhild took little part in the rejoicings. She did all that 
 she had to do, thinking of Siegfried the while. Now, amongst 
 the warriors present, there was one who was famed for his 
 unusual strength, bold Dietrich of Bern. His thoughts were far 
 away in the beautiful land of the Amelungs, which his uncle 
 Ermenrich had taken from him by guile and force. He longed 
 to return to his own people, and win the victory for them ; but 
 Etzel would not give him the necessary help. Sometimes, as he
 
 278 
 
 THE Nl BE LUNGS' WOE. 
 
 sat grave and sad in the great hall, while other men were laughing 
 and talking, the queen would go to him, and tell him of Hagen's 
 foul deed. He understood that she wished to woo him to 
 vengeance, but he was silent, for he neither could nor would 
 raise his sword against the Burgundian warriors who had been 
 his faithful comrades in the olden time. 
 
 Months and years passed on ; a little boy was born to the 
 royal pair. He was the image of his mother, and received the 
 name of Ortlieb. The king and country rejoiced equally in 
 the birth of an heir to the throne. For his son's sake, Etzel 
 loved his wife more than he had ever done before, and would 
 have given her anything she chose . to ask ; but she cared for 
 nothing ; she remained grave, quiet, thoughtful about her duties, 
 but sparing of her words. Even her little boy, carefully as she 
 tended him, did not bring her happiness. She was never seen 
 to smile even on him. The wound that her first husband's death 
 had dealt her would not heal. The spirit of vengeance, rising 
 out of the abyss, never ceased to whisper in her ears, " Blood 
 for blood, murder for murder," and her ears were open to its 
 cry.
 
 II. THE BURGUNDIANS VISIT HUNLAND. 
 
 THE JOURNEY. 
 
 E day when the king was playing with little Ortlieb, and 
 speaking to his mother, he said how much he wished that 
 the child should one day be a hero like Siegfried. She nearly 
 shrieked when she heard the name, but forcing herself to be quiet, 
 begged her husband to invite her brothers and their friends to 
 come on a visit to the land of the Huns. It was the first request 
 that she had ever made, and so King Etzel was overjoyed to hear 
 it He despatched the minstrels Swemmeling and Worbeling, 
 with four and twenty noble warriors, to invite the Burgundian 
 kings to the Midsummer festival. And Chriemhild sent a special 
 message to her mother, begging her to come too. In spite of 
 Hagen's remonstrances, the three kings accepted Etzel's invitation. 
 
 Hagen prepared for the journey as though they were setting out 
 on a campaign, and not to a feast. The Lady Ute would have 
 liked to go, but her age and infirmities hindered her taking so long 
 a journey. Brunhild also remained at home, for she had no desire 
 to see her enemy's good fortune ; besides, she had long given 
 up caring for festivals ; she only cared tc spend her time near 
 Siegfried's grave-mound. 
 
 " The Nibelungs are going to visit the Huns," said the common 
 people, as they watched King Etzel's visitors crossing the Rhine ; 
 for, ever since the treasure had come into the country, the kings 
 
 79
 
 2 8o THE NIB E LUNGS' WOE. 
 
 and their followers had been called Nibclungs, after the unknown 
 land. 
 
 The travellers rode for twelve days through the Black Forest 
 and many waste places, till they reached the Danube. At the 
 borders of Bavaria neither inn nor ferryman was to be found. 
 While the rest made preparations to encamp for the night, Hagen 
 went deeper into the inhospitable land, and came to a spring that 
 ran into a small lake. There he saw some women bathing in 
 the clear water, and at once knew that they were swan-maidens. 
 Seeing him, they swam away, but he got possession of their feather 
 garments, which obliged them to speak to him. 
 
 " Give us back our garments," said one of them, " and I will 
 tell you of the future." 
 
 He promised to do as she desired, if she would tell him how 
 their journey should end. She then prophesied pleasant things 
 to him, and the hero gave back all the swan-garments. No sooner 
 had he done this, than another of the maidens informed him that 
 her sister had spoken words of guile, for that, far from the happy 
 ending she had foretold, the priests alone of all that numerous com- 
 pany should ever see the Rhine again ; as for the warriors, they 
 should all die by the sword, if they did not at once return home. 
 Hagen answered that he was ready to defend himself and his 
 kings, and then asked how to cross the river. The swan-maidens 
 directed him where he should find a ferryman, and then flew 
 away. 
 
 Hagen followed the advice given him, and brought his company 
 down to the ferry. The boatman turned out to be an old enemy, 
 so after a hand-to-hand encounter, he was slain, and Hagen took his 
 place. When they were halfway across the river, Hagen flung 
 the priest, who accompanied them, overboard, that at least one 
 portion of the swan-maiden's prophecy might come to nought. 
 But he had miscalculated in this instance; the priest's floating
 
 THE BURGUNDIANS VISIT HUNLAND. 281 
 
 garments upheld him on the turbulent waters, and the current 
 drove him back to the shore. 
 
 " The holy man has the devil's own luck," said the grim warrior. 
 " I care not, however. What must be, will be, as the Norns used 
 to say." 
 
 The travellers pursued their journey rather more rapidly than 
 before. At length, after meeting with several adventures, they 
 arrived at Margrave Riidiger's castle, where they met with a hearty 
 reception from their old friend and his wife. During their visit 
 to Bechelaren, Giselher fell in love with fair Dietelinde, the only 
 daughter of the house, and wooed her through his brother. So, 
 according to old custom, the youth and the maiden were called 
 to appear before the whole company in the great hall of the castle, 
 and say whether they were willing to be man and wife. Giselher 
 did not hesitate for a moment. His "yes" was loud and clear. 
 But fair Dietelinde blushed, and looked down, and her whispered 
 ' yes " was only obtained in response to a second demand. Then 
 Giselher clasped her in his arms, and gave her the kiss of betrothal. 
 The bond was therefore sealed for life. 
 
 The Burgundians, or Nibelungs as they were generally called, 
 remained at Bechelaren for many days, and when they went away, 
 their host pressed all manner of costly gifts upon them. Hagen 
 refused to receive anything in the way of ornament, and only 
 begged for a strong shield that hung on the wall amongst other 
 pieces of armour. 
 
 " It is Nudung's shield, and he, our only son, was slain by faith- 
 less Wittich," said the Margravine; "take it, noble hero, and may 
 it guard you well." 
 
 The travellers continued their journey, and arrived at the land 
 of the Huns, on the borders of which they were met by Dietricu 
 and many other warriors. Accompanied by these, and by Riidiger 
 they at length arrived at Etzelburg. The queen came down to
 
 2 S2 THE NIBELUNGS* WOE. 
 
 meet them in the castle court. She greeted the kings, and kissed 
 young Giselher, but scarcely seemed to see the warriors who ac- 
 companied them. Hagen was angry, and said, 
 
 " When one comes as an invited guest, one is accustomed to 
 hear one's host at least say ' Welcome.' This praiseworthy custom 
 does not seem to obtain in the land of the Huns." 
 
 "Lord Hagen of Tronje," said Chriemhild, "have you done 
 anything to gain such greeting? Have you, perchance, brought 
 me some of the stolen Nibelung treasure ? " 
 
 "It lies deep sunk in the Rhine," replied the warrior, "and 
 there it will remain till the end of time. But had I known that 
 you desired a gift, I am rich enough to have brought you one." 
 
 " I can do without it," said the queen, " I too am rich ; I only 
 thought you might perhaps have desired to restore to me my own 
 again." 
 
 " I find my shield, helmet, sharp sword, and coat of mail a heavy 
 enough weight to carry," replied the hero, "but I promise to try 
 and bring you the devil. He has much rich treasure." 
 
 " I do not need your gifts," cried the queen, " nor do I desire 
 them. You have served me ill enough in time past with your 
 murderous and thievish hand. I have not yet requited you for 
 what you have already done for me." 
 
 She turned away in anger, and calling her men-at-arms around 
 her, promised to reward whoever avenged Siegfried's death. 
 
 The queen then asked her brothers to divest themselves of their 
 armour, as it was not customary to appear in the panoply of war 
 before King Etzel. Hagen at once advised them not to do so, 
 warning them of the consequences in plain terms. 
 
 Chriemhild exclaimed, that she would give much to know 
 whose advice he was following in this matter ; then the Amelung 
 hero came fonvard, and boldly avowed that it was he who had 
 given this counsel, for he knew well the devilish plots that were
 
 THE BURGUNDIANS VISIT HUNLAND. 283 
 
 being contrived in the palace. The queen only answered him 
 with an angry look, and at once retired to her apartments. 
 
 While the kings talked together in the friendliest fashion, the 
 
 o o 
 
 Hunnish warriors looked askance at the Burgundians. Hagen, 
 desirous of showing that he felt no fear, asked one of his comrades 
 to go with him to the inner court to await the coming of the 
 queen. His familiar friend, Volker the minstrel, declared himself 
 ready. They seated themselves on a bench near the queen's 
 hall. As they sat there Hagen with his good sword Balmung 
 laid across his knees Chriemhild came down the steps, and 
 asked him why he had hated her so, and why he had slain the 
 noble Siegfried. 
 
 " Well," he said, " I never denied that I did it The queen 
 of Burgundy was insulted for his sake, and the royal house 
 dishonoured. The shame had to be washed out with blood, and 
 as the hero was too strong to attack in the open field, he had 
 to be slain by cunning. Any one may blame me, any one may 
 strive to avenge the deed, I am not afraid. I have no cap of 
 darkness, and am easily to be found." 
 
 Then Chriemhild turned to her serving-men, and desired them 
 to slay the slanderer of their queen, and the treacherous murderer 
 of Siegfried. But the two brave men were so terrible to look 
 upon, that none of the Huns dared touch them, although the 
 queen offered them much gold. They then went their way, and 
 the queen returned to her apartments, blushing with shame. 
 
 A message now came from King Etzel begging the Burgundians 
 to visit him in his palace. They accepted the invitation, and he 
 greeted them like old friends. After having welcomed the heroes, 
 he said that he should very much like to know who the two 
 warriors were that looked so brave, and stood so close together. 
 
 "They are Volker the minstrel, and my uncle Hagen of 
 Tronje," replied King Gunther.
 
 284 THE NIBELUNGS? WOE. 
 
 " What, Hagen ! " cried Etzel. " So we have met again at last, 
 old friend, and I can tell you to your face that you have not belied 
 the promise of your youth. But you are much changed in your 
 looks from what you were in the old days when I was proud 
 of your brave deeds in my service, and set you free, to return to 
 Burgundy. You have lost an eye since then, your hair is mixed 
 with grey, and your face has grown so rugged that you might 
 alarm the boldest warrior when you swing your broadsword." 
 
 " Who can tell," replied the hero, " how soon I may have to do 
 it again ? " 
 
 " Never in the land of the Huns," answered the king ; "you, like 
 all Burgundians, are a favoured guest." 
 
 The evening passed quietly, and it was nearly midnight before 
 the Burgundians were led to the great hall, where couches were 
 spread for them with down cushions covered with gold embroidery. 
 They agreed with Hagen that it would be well to keep watch 
 during the night for fear of surprise, and that each man should 
 place his weapons where he could get them at a moment's notice. 
 
 Hagen and Volker kept guard. They had been seated for some 
 time in silence, when all at once the minstrel saw helmets and 
 shields glancing in the starlight. He pointed them out to his 
 companion, who knew that they were the queen's men, and needed 
 no telling to inform him on what errand they were come. The 
 minstrel wanted to spring out upon them, but Hagen prevented 
 him, because some of the enemy might then have slipped into 
 the hall, and perhaps murdered their sleeping friends. So peace 
 was preserved for the time; and at dawn, the Burgundians 
 marched to the sanctuary to keep the solemn Midsummer festival. 
 King Etzel appeared with his train, and asked, in astonishment, 
 why they wore their armour. But they answered that such was 
 their custom, not thinking it well to tell him what had happened 
 during the night
 
 THE BURGUNDIANS VISIT HUNLAND. 285 
 
 After the service was over, a great repast was served, which was 
 in turn succeeded by games, dances, music, and other entertain- 
 ments. In all feats of arms and trials of skill in the lists, the 
 Nibelungs showed themselves better men than the Huns. At 
 length the games appeared to be over, and the warriors desired 
 to rest after their exertions. As they were leaving the scene of 
 contest, a prince of the Huns presented himself in shining armour, 
 and offered to try his skill against the strangers, who, he alleged, 
 had hitherto only measured their strength with the common 
 people, and not with the princes. Bold Volker caught his spear 
 more firmly in his hand, and turned to accept the challenge. His 
 thrust was so shrewd that he wounded the Hun severely, and 
 a cry of " Murder, down with the murderer ! " arose on every 
 side. A free fight would have begun in another minute, had not 
 King Etzel thrown himself between the belligerents, and threat- 
 ened death to any of his people who hurt one of his guests. 
 Peace was then outwardly restored ; but the sullen glances each 
 side cast on the other, showed the angry turmoil in every heart. 
 
 That evening, Etzel sent for his little son into the hall, that he 
 might present him to his guests. The warriors all admired the 
 handsome, frank-mannered child, and told the father that they 
 did so ; but Hagen said he did not think the boy would live to 
 grow up, he looked so delicate. 
 
 This speech of Hagen's increased the bad feeling of the Huns 
 towards the Burgundians tenfold ; but no one betrayed his 
 thoughts. A little later, a great noise was heard in the court 
 without shouts, the clang of armour, howls and cries. 
 
 THE FIRST BLOOD. BLODELIN AND DANK WART 
 
 Before the warriors went to the feast that evening, Queen 
 Chriemhild had spoken privately to the hero of Bern. She 
 promised him Etzel's help in regaining his kingdom, if he would
 
 2 36 THE NIBELUXGS' IVCE. 
 
 do her one service if he would avenge Siegfried's death. But 
 he told her that he could not, for the Burgundian warriors were 
 old friends and comrades of his ; besides, he reminded her, that 
 they had come to Etzelburg in all good faith and loyalty. 
 A few minutes after Dietrich had left her sad and hopeless, 
 Blodelin, Etzel's brother, came in, and told the queen of what had 
 happened that afternoon in the tilting ground. Seeing how hot 
 his anger was, Chriemhild thought she might perhaps succeed 
 in gaining him over to her cause. She therefore told him of the 
 unavenged death of Siegfried, and promised him a rich treasure 
 of silver and gold if he would do her will. But he refused, from 
 fear of Etzel's anger. Upon which, the wise woman offered him 
 a margravate in addition, with lands and towers, and the hand 
 of a beautiful maiden of her court, whom he had long wooed, and 
 wooed in vain. These promises gained him to her will. He told 
 her that he would cause a quarrel to spring up between the men 
 on either side, and if Hagen came to try and settle matters, 
 he would have him overpowered, and carried to the queen in 
 bonds. 
 
 Chriemhild then retired to her chamber, which was pervaded by 
 a soft light, the curtains of Indian silk keeping off the rays of the 
 sun. As she sat there thinking, the words that her mother had 
 once spoken rushed into her memory. "Women often strike 
 deeper wounds and shed more blood with their tongues than men 
 with their swords." She would have started up, and recalled 
 Blodelin ; but at the same moment she saw, as distinctly as iY 
 it had really been there, Siegfried's bier with the dead warrior 
 stretched upon it. She saw him raise himself, and stretch out his 
 arms to her ; but when she started forward to meet him, there was 
 nothing but empty air. She determined now to go on to the bitter 
 end. Whether her vengeance brought about the death of her 
 little son, and of King Etzel ; whether it brought about the dc-
 
 THE BURGUNDIANS VISIT HUNLAND. 287 
 
 struction of the kingdom, she did not care. She could die, and 
 die willingly, if only she had the murderer's life. 
 
 Meantime, Blodelin was making his preparations. His men 
 were rejoiced to hear the news he brought them, and followed 
 him joyously to the hall, where Dankwart the Marshal, Hagen's 
 brother, had charge over the serving-men. The hero rose from 
 his seat to greet the prince, who exclaimed : 
 
 " Prepare to die. The queen demands a bloody atonement for 
 the death of the great Siegfried." 
 
 " But why should I have to expiate a murder of which I knew 
 nothing ? " 
 
 "That cannot be helped," said the Hun; "my men's swords 
 cannot return unstained to their sheaths." 
 
 " Then I am sorry that I gave you words of peace. I shall 
 now give you your answer with cold steel." 
 
 With that he drew his sword, and swung it so lustily at the 
 warrior's neck that his head fell to the ground at one blow. 
 
 Wild shrieks .'.nd shouts of vengeance arose, and all prepared 
 to take part in the fight that had become inevitable. Dankwart 
 made his way fighting to the hall, his armour bespattered with 
 blood ; but the defenceless serving-men were slain to a man. 
 
 " Up, brother Hagen ! " he cried, " save me from the faithless 
 Huns. Lord Blodelin attacked both me and the servants, in order 
 to avenge Siegfried's death. I slew him, but the servants are all 
 dead, and I alone am escaped out of the traitorous toils that the 
 Huns have laid for us.' 
 
 THE SLAUGHTER. 
 
 The fight recommenced in the banqueting hall, in spite of all 
 King Gunther's efforts to smooth matters over, and during the 
 struggle the little Prince Ortlieb, the sole hope of Etzel's house,
 
 >S8 THE NIB E LUNGS' IV OE. 
 
 tvas killed. At length Hagen, Dankwart, and Volker, succeeded 
 in locking and bolting the doors of the hall. 
 
 Etzel and the queen sat full of anxious care during the melee. 
 Dietrich and Riidiger, neither of whom took part in the fight, were 
 also grave and sad. At length the hero of Bern exclaimed : 
 
 "Listen to me, Nibelungs. Hearken to my words, ye friends 
 of Burgundy. Grant me a truce that I and my men and Margrave 
 Riidiger may go away unharmed." 
 
 King Gunther recognised Dietrich's voice, and said : " If any 
 of my warriors has done harm to you or yours, noble hero of Bern, 
 I shall take your cause into my own hands." 
 
 " No one has done me harm," replied the warrior ; " all that I 
 request is that you should let us go freely." 
 
 " What is the good of so much requesting ? " cried hot-headed 
 Wolfhart ; " we have sharp keys to unlock the doors with, even if a 
 thousand such as these Nibelungs tried to keep them shut." 
 
 " Hush ! hush ! foolish comrade," said Dietrich ; " there was but 
 little sense in that speech of yours." 
 
 King Gunther then commanded his people to open the door, 
 and much to the wrath of the Burgundians, Dietrich passed 
 through their ranks with Chriemhild leaning on one arm and King 
 Etzel on the other, and followed by his six hundred warriors. 
 After them came Riidiger with four hundred men. Giselher said 
 to the Margrave : 
 
 " Greet your daughter from me, and say to her that I shall 
 think of her even in death." 
 
 Many of the Huns tried to escape with King Etzel, but Volker 
 cut them down as they strove to pass the door. 
 
 No sooner were Dietrich and Riidiger safely gone than the hor- 
 rible carnage recommenced. The Burgundian swords had no rest, 
 until all the Huns were lying dead or dying on the floor. After 
 that the Nibelungs rested awhile from their labours, but Hagen
 
 THE BURGUNDIANS VISIT HUNLAND. 289 
 
 speedily called them to be up and doing, and fling the corpses out, 
 lest they should be in the way in any renewed attack. He was at 
 once obeyed. The dead and wounded Huns were one and all 
 flung into the court below. 
 
 Volker and Hagen now guarded the entrance, lest the enemy 
 should unexpectedly break in. 
 
 I While Etzel wrung his hands, and moaned over the slaughter 
 of so many good men and true, Chriemhild offered a shield full of 
 gold and jewels to whoever slew her deadly foe, Hagen of Tronje. 
 Of all who heard her, one alone came forward and said that he 
 would try and do her will. And he was Count Iring of Daneland, 
 Haward's man. 
 
 He went forward boldly and performed prodigies of valour, but 
 at length was beaten back, and fell dead under Chriemhild's 
 window. 
 
 Haward and Irnfried of Duringen (Thuringia) determined to 
 avenge bold Iring, so they called out their men and went to the 
 attack. The fight began at the door, where Irnfried fell under the 
 minstrel's sword, and immediately afterwards Haward was slain 
 by the hero of Tronje. But still the men of Daneland and 
 Duringen fought on unheeding, and Hagen exclaimed, 
 
 " Give place. Let them go through the door, out of which they 
 shall never come back alive. Volker shall play them a slumber- 
 song to which our swords can beat the accompaniment." 
 
 So the Nibelungs opened their ranks, and the men of Dane- 
 land and Duringen entered the blood-stained hall. Once more the 
 battle began. Many a brave Burgundian fell to rise no more ; but 
 not one of their enemies escaped alive. 
 
 THE PARLEY AND THE FIRE. 
 
 Silence fell on the palace. The Nibelung warriors laid down 
 their shields and heavy armour, that they might the better rest 
 
 T
 
 290 THE NIB E LUNGS' WOE. 
 
 from their labours, while Hagen and Volker kept watch by the 
 door. During this time of quiet, the Burgundians tried to make 
 peace. They reminded King Etzel that they had come to his 
 land at his own invitation, and relying on his good faith, only to 
 meet with treachery from him and his. But Etzel demanded that 
 the Burgundians should acknowledge him their feudal superior. 
 Then Giselher turned to his sister and asked what harm he had 
 ever done her that she should behave in such a way. And even 
 the women, who were weeping for their husbands and sons, bore 
 him witness that all his life had been spent in doing good to 
 others. Chriemhild was touched by his appeal, and told him that 
 he, Gunther, and Gernot should go free with all their warriors and 
 men-at-arms if only they would give up the murderer Hagen, that 
 she might punish him as he deserved. But with one voice the 
 Nibelungs refused terms which were dishonourable in their eyes. 
 
 Enraged at the boldness of her foes, the queen called upon the 
 Huns to make one more assault, and drive them out of the house. 
 Again the bitter strife began. Chriemhild knew no more compas- 
 sion. She commanded her servants to set fire to the upper part 
 of the house, which was built of wood, and soon the flames were 
 seen spreading over the whole roof, which at length fell with a 
 crash. A wild wail of human creatures in their last agony accom- 
 panied the fall. After that the queen retired to her own apart- 
 ments, and standing at the window overlooking the house where 
 her brothers and their friends must have been burnt, thought sadly 
 and half remorsefully over the past. Only half remorsefully, for 
 she felt her heart as full of hatred to Hagen as \t ever had teen. 
 
 Meanwhile the Nibelungs had not perished in the flames, as 
 Chriemhild fondly imagined. The great vaulted hall in which 
 they had entrenched themselves was too strongly built to have 
 suffered much from the fire in the wooden upper storey ; though 
 the Burgundians were for a long time as if shut up in an oven, the
 
 THE BURGUNDIANS ViSIT HUNLAND. 291 
 
 heat was so terrific ; they yet escaped with their lives ; and Hagen 
 made them slake their intolerable thirst by drinking the blood of 
 their fallen enemies. 
 
 When the Huns at length came to look for their charred 
 bodies, they were not a little surprised to find themselves con- 
 fronted by six hundred brave and utterly undaunted warriors. 
 
 SLAUGHTER AGAIN. THE LORD OF BECHELAREN. 
 
 The queen heard with astonishment that the Nibelungs were 
 still alive and armed for a new fight. While she pondered 
 what it were best to do, one of the Hunnish notables told her 
 that she should apply for help, either to the Margrave of 
 Bechelaren, who had received so many benefits from the king, 
 or to Dietrich of Bern, who had enjoyed Etzel's hospitality so 
 long as a fugitive. Chriemhild thought the advice good, and 
 at once sent off a message to Riidiger. 
 
 The noble Margrave immediately obeyed the queen's summons. 
 Etzel explained to him the true position of affairs, and remind- 
 ing him of all the honours that had been heaped upon him, 
 told him the time was come to prove his gratitude. He must 
 punish the Nibelungs for the great scath they had wrought 
 to the royal house and to the land of the Huns. 
 
 " My liege," said the good old hero sadly, " all that you have 
 said is true, and I am ready to do you any service, however 
 dangerous, but do not ask that I should break the faith I swore 
 to them when they stayed with me at Bechelaren, before I led 
 them to Etzelburg at your command. They trusted me utterly, 
 and young Giselher chose my daughter to be his wife, and to 
 share the Burgundian throne. Methinks it were an ill deed 
 to raise my hand against them that trusted me." 
 
 When the king reminded him of his oath of allegiance, he 
 continued,-*-
 
 292 THE NfBELUNGS' WOE. 
 
 " Take back my castles and towns, the wealth that you have 
 given me, and the possessions I have won for myself. I will 
 go penniless into the wide world with my wife and child, and 
 what is my best wealth, Honour and Truth." 
 
 " Nay, noble Margrave, but you cannot do so," replied the 
 queen, "if you fail in obedience. Think of the time when you 
 came to Burgundy to woo me for Etzel. I feared to go alone 
 amongst the barbarous Huns, where I had not a friend or helper, 
 and you swore to me with a solemn oath that you would help 
 me against every adversary, except your liege lord. Your 
 sworn faith to me is older than that which you promised to 
 the Nibelungs. If you break your oath to me, you are dis- 
 honoured." 
 
 Riidiger stood in silent thought before the queen. At length 
 he said, 
 
 "Take my head. I shall not even tremble when the exe- 
 cutioner's sword touches me. But do not force me to do what 
 my conscience disallows." 
 
 The conversation lasted a good while longer. At length 
 Riidiger with a heavy heart consented to obey the king and 
 queen. 
 
 The Nibelungs stood by the window looking out for help. 
 On seeing the noble Margrave approach with his men, Giselher 
 exclaimed joyfully that all was not lost, that they should see 
 Bechelaren and the Rhine again. When Riidiger came close to 
 the door he explained his errand. Gunther reminded him of 
 the friendship they had sworn, and Riidiger answered sadly 
 that the oath he had sworn to Etzel's wife forced him now to 
 fight her battle. And so they took fair leave of each other, as 
 noble friends forced to fight against their will. Once more the 
 blood of the Nibelungs and their opponents stained the great 
 hall. The heat of battle raged anew in every heart, and many
 
 THE BURGUNDIANS VISIT HUNLAND. 293 
 
 men were slain. Amongst the number were Riidiger and Gernot. 
 At length the men of Bechelaren were conquered, and slain 
 to the very last man. Two hundred Nibelungs also fell before 
 this victory was gained. 
 
 The heroes were silent in the wide hall. They heard the 
 sound of voices in the court without. The queen's voice was 
 raised in indignation, as she accused the Margrave Riidiger of 
 playing the false traitor and making peace with the Nibelungs. 
 Volker's anger was roused at this unjust suspicion. Leaning 
 out of the window, he told her not to vex herself on that score, 
 nor accuse a good man falsely, for the hero of Bechelaren had 
 died serving her. He then commanded the Margrave's body 
 to be shown at the window, so that the king and queen and 
 all the Huns should see it. Etzel uttered a loud cry of horror, 
 and cursed the hand that had done the deed. He called for 
 his sword, that he might himself lead the band of avengers, 
 but he forebore to unsheath it when he saw that terrible pair 
 (Hagen and Volker) still guarding the threshold. 
 
 Chriemhild stood looking on with folded arms. She was 
 beautiful as ever, but it was now the beauty of a fallen angel. 
 She shed a few tears for the loss of her old friend Riidiger. 
 Perhaps also because she feared that he was her last ally. 
 She may likewise have pondered whether by any means she 
 might yet attain her end. But be that as it may, the next 
 events were unexpected by her as by every one else. 
 
 DIETRICH AND HIS AMELUNGS. 
 
 One of Dietrich's men heard what had happened. He 
 hastened to his master and told him the strange tale. Dietrich 
 refused to believe it, and sent Helfrich to the palace to find 
 out the truth. On hearing the news of Riidiger's death con-
 
 294 THE NIBELUNGS' WOE. 
 
 firmed, the hero of Bern sent his old master Hildebrand to ask 
 the Nibelungs why they had done this evil deed. 
 
 The master would have gone unarmed upon this errand, but 
 Wolfhart cried out upon the folly of appearing as a lamb in the 
 presence of wolves. The master thought the advice good, and 
 put his armour on. When he was on the way, he saw that all 
 Dietrich's men were following him well-armed, under Wolfhart's 
 guidance. He desired his quick-tempered nephew to go back, 
 but the latter refused point-blank, saying that he could not 
 let his uncle go alone ; and the other warriors, one and all, de- 
 clined to leave him. When the small band of five hundred brave 
 men came in front of the house the Nibelungs were defending, 
 Master Hildebrand lowered his shield, and asked if it were true 
 that good Margrave Riidiger was dead. Hagen answered that 
 they wished it were untrue, but it could not be helped, for he 
 had been slain in unavoidable fight. The Amelungs mourned 
 aloud for their friend. Wolfhart would have avenged him on the 
 spot, but the master held him back, threatening him with 
 Dietrich's anger if he thrust himself into the quarrel. Then, 
 turning to the Nibelungs, he demanded in the name of the hero 
 of Bern that the Margrave's body should be handed over to 
 them, that they might give him honourable burial. King 
 Gunther replied that it was a good and worthy desire on their 
 part, and one that ought to be gratified. Wolfhart called to them 
 to make haste and bring out the body, upon which Volker 
 said that they were too tired to do more work, so the Amelungs 
 might come in and fetch it. 
 
 One word led to another, till Wolthart lost his temper al- 
 together, and rushed forward, followed by the Amelungs, shout- 
 ing as with one voice their ancient war-cry. Master Hilde- 
 brand, drawn on in the general rush, was found in a foremost 
 place when the battle began. The tired Nibelungs, and the brave
 
 THE BURGUNDIANS VISIT HUNLAND. 295 
 
 Amelungs men who had formerly fought side by side in the 
 great battle of Ravenna, and on many other fields were now 
 engaged in hand-to-hand conflict for life and death. Here was 
 strong Sigestap, duke of Bern, there brave Helfrich, there the 
 bold heroes Wolfwin, Wolf brand, Helm not, Ritschart, and others, 
 all burning to avenge the death of Rudiger. The confusion was 
 so great that often those who wished to meet could not find 
 each other. Thus Volker and Wolfhart were kept apart ; the 
 minstrel fell upon Sigestap, who had slain many of the Bur- 
 gundians, and gave him his death-blow, only to meet Hildebrand 
 a little later and himself to fall under his hand. Dankwart 
 was slain by Helfrich ; Wolfhart did many a deed of valour, 
 until Giselher attacked him. After a tremendous struggle, the 
 young king thrust him through the breast, but even then, 
 though in mortal agony, he grasped his sword in both hands, 
 and slew his adversary. 
 
 Old Hildebrand saw his nephew fall, and hastened to him. He 
 lifted him in his arms, and tried to bear him from that hall of 
 doom ; but he was too heavy. The wounded hero opened his 
 eyes once more, and said in a faint voice, 
 
 " Uncle, tell our friends not to weep for me, for I have met my 
 death at the hands of a brave king, as he has at mine. My 
 wild blood has grown calm and still, and I am ready to sleep 
 peacefully like a tired child." 
 
 These wefe the last words of the wildest, hottest warrior in 
 Dietrich's train. Like Wolfhart, all the other comrades of the 
 hero of Bern, save Hildebrand alone, lay stretched on the bloody 
 floor ; and with them all the Burgundians, except Hagen and 
 King Gunther. 
 
 " Come now, Master Hildebrand," cried a rough voice, " you 
 owe me satisfaction for the death of my comrade Volker." 
 
 It was Hagen that spoke. The meafdtelsmer defend his
 
 296 THE NIBELUNGS 1 WOE. 
 
 bravely, but the hero of Tronje was strong and determined, and 
 Balmung was sharp. One terrible blow cut through Hildebrand's 
 coat of mail, and the blood flowed freely from his side. 
 
 THE END OF THE NIBELUNGS. 
 
 When the old man felt the wound, and looked in the grim, 
 rugged countenance of his antagonist, for the first time in all his 
 long life fear took possession of him, and covering his back with 
 his shield, he fled like a coward. 
 
 With shattered armour, and red with his own blood, and that 
 of others, the old man came before his master. Dietrich asked 
 whether he had fought with the Nibelungs, and why he was so 
 wet with blood. Then Hildebrand told how the Burgundians had 
 slain the good Riidiger, and had declined to give up his body 
 for burial. 
 
 The hero of Bern was so saddened by these tidings, that he 
 asked no further questions ; he begged the old man to command 
 his comrades to arm themselves at once. 
 
 " Whom shall I command ? " asked the master. 
 
 " The swordsmen of Bern are all here. You, my lord, and I, 
 are all that remain of them ; and of the Nibelungs, Hagen and 
 King Gunther are the only ones alive." 
 
 At first Dietrich did not understand, and when he did, he 
 mourned aloud for his friends and comrades. 
 
 "How could my brave men have fallen under the swords of 
 these tired warriors ? Who will now help me to regain the land 
 of the Amelungs ? " 
 
 So he cried in his sore distress. But soon, mastering his 
 emotion,; the hero prepared to avenge his fallen friends, and, 
 accompanied by the master, went full-armed to the house where 
 Hagen and Gunther awaited their fate with undaunted courage. 
 
 Hagen and Hildebrand exchanged so many scornful words
 
 THE BURGUNDIANS VISIT HUNLAND. 297 
 
 when they met, that Dietrich chid them for a couple of old 
 women, and demanded that the combat should at once begin. 
 Hagen sprang forward without delay. Balmung was as sharp as 
 ever it had been, and the hero of Bern had much trouble to defend 
 himself; but the hand that wielded the sword was weary, and 
 less nimble than of yore. Dietrich, seeing this, made a sudden 
 spring upon Hagen, threw him down, and bound him fast. Then 
 he bore his prisoner into the presence of Chriemhild, and re- 
 commended him to her mercy, saying that he was the boldest 
 and bravest warrior in the whole world. He only noticed the 
 thanks and praise she gave him for his doughty deed, and did not 
 m-ark the gleam in her eyes, nor rightly interpret the flush that 
 rose to her cheeks. He hastened away to the last battle with 
 King Gunther. 
 
 Chriemhild had gained her end : that end to which she had 
 waded through rivers of noble blood. Hagen read his fate in 
 her eyes ; but he never flinched : he would not give her that dear 
 satisfaction. She wondered whether she could make him confess 
 where he had hidden the Nibelung treasure. She spoke to him 
 kindly, and promised to let him go safely home, if he would only 
 tell her the hiding-place. The hero seemed touched by her 
 gentleness, and said that he would willingly tell her, but that he 
 had sworn to keep the secret as long as one of the three kings 
 of Burgundy was alive. 
 
 She promised him again that she would keep her word, if he 
 did her will ; and then had him taken away to sure watch and 
 ward. 
 
 " Lies, lies, all lies," he said to himself, as his gaolers led him 
 away. 
 
 The hero of Bern soon afterwards appeared with King Gunther 
 as a prisoner ; the latter was at once taken to a separate dungeon 
 Chriemhild considered what was now to be done. Siegfried's
 
 298 THE NIBE LUNGS' WOE. 
 
 murderers were now in her hands, both the man who had done 
 the deed, and the king who had condoned it. 
 
 She felt a few qualms of conscience when she thought that 
 Gunther was, after all, her brother ; but she soon stifled them, 
 and calmly pursued the path she had marked out for herself. 
 King Gunther's head was cut off by her orders, and laid at 
 Hagen's feet to convince him that now the last king of Burgundy- 
 was dead. 
 
 The hero thrust away the head contemptuously. " It was not 
 thou," he said, " to whom I swore allegiance, and whose crown I 
 strove to keep free from stain. The royal house of Burgundy, to 
 which I belonged, is wasted, and its glory overthrown. Of what 
 worth to me is the span of life that remains ? " 
 
 That night Chriemhild had a happy dream. She thought that 
 Siegfried stood before her as she had seen him first ; that he 
 stretched out his arms to her in love and gratitude, and then 
 vanished slowly in the grey dawn. 
 
 Next morning Chriemhild seated herself beside King Etzel in 
 all her robes of state. The hero of Tronje was brought before 
 her, a prisoner, and in bonds. She questioned him again as to 
 the hiding-place of the treasure. Raising his head, he answered 
 with all his former boldness : 
 
 "You are mistaken, woman, if you think that you have my 
 mind in your power, that you have tamed me entirely. The 
 kings are all dead now, Gunther, Gernot, Giselher ; now none but 
 God and I know where the treasure was sunk in the deep waters 
 of the Rhine, and from me you shall never learn where you may 
 seek with any hope of finding." 
 
 Chriemhild silently came down from the throne, and picked up 
 the good sword Balmung that lay beside Hagen's armour. 
 
 " You took good care of the gold you stole from me/' she said, 
 "but another thing that you stole I have in my hands at this
 
 THE BURGUNDIANS VISIT HUNLAND. 
 
 299 
 
 moment. My noble husband Siegfried wore this sword when 
 last I saw him, before he fell under your murderous hand. I will 
 now try whether it be strong enough to avenge its master." 
 
 She had drawn the sword from its sheath, and now swung 
 it with both hands, and with such force that the head was cut 
 from the body, and fell at the feet of old Hildebrand. 
 
 A cry of horror echoed through the hall, then all was still. 
 Chriemhild thrust the bloody weapon back into its sheath, and 
 said, 
 
 " This blood may never be washed from the blade. Balmung 
 must be taken to Worms as it is, and laid in Siegfried's grave. 
 Perhaps he may then learn that his wife loved him faithfully, 
 and punished his murderer. Two things alone made up my 
 life : Love and Revenge. My work is done." 
 
 " Strange," said Hildebrand, staring at the hero's dissevered 
 head, "that the bravest warrior in all the world should have 
 been slain by a woman ! But although he wronged me much 
 of late, I will yet avenge him." 
 
 So saying, the old master drew his sword, and gave the 
 queen her death-blow. Etzel shrieked out, and threw himself 
 on his knees beside his wife. She was deadly pale, and had 
 only strength to gasp rather than speak, 
 
 " Let none touch the old master for this," she said, and they 
 were her last words.
 
 III. THE NIBELUNGS' LAMENT. 
 
 AT ETZELBURG. 
 
 REAT as was the misfortune that had come upon the 
 people and the royal house, the burial of the dead had 
 yet to be seen to as speedily as possible. King Etzel was too 
 full of his own grief to attend to business of any kind, so 
 Dietrich and Hildebrand gave all necessary orders, and them- 
 selves helped in the sad work. 
 
 All the dead were buried with every honour, save and except 
 the hero of Tronje, who was forgotten. The grave- mounds were 
 filled and closed, before the old master remembered the brave 
 warrior, whose headless trunk still lay in the audience-hall. 
 Hildebrand ordered that he should receive instant burial. So a 
 separate grave was prepared for him, and there he was laid 
 with all his armour, except the good sword Balmung, which was 
 to be taken to Siegfried's grave, according to Chriemhild's wish. 
 Many of the Huns went with the funeral procession ; they neither 
 wept nor made moan for the dead man whose strong right 
 hand had brought so much evil on their native land. Next 
 spring lovely flowers decked the other grave-mounds, while on 
 Hagen's thistles and thorns alone were to be seen, in the midst 
 of which a venomous adder had found its home. All who had 
 gone near enough to the snake to examine it carefully, main-
 
 ETZEL BESIDE CHRIEMHILD's BIER. 
 
 301
 
 THE LAMENT. 303 
 
 tained that it had only one eye like the hero of Tronic, and 
 were firmly convinced that it was the form his spirit had taken. 
 
 AT BECHELAREN. 
 
 Dietrich and Hildebrand sent news to Bechelaren and to 
 Worms of all that had occurred. They chose the noble minstrel 
 Swemmeling as their ambassador, for they knew that he was 
 tender-hearted, and would break the news as gently as pos- 
 sible. 
 
 The Margravine and her daughter sat by an open window, 
 watching the clouds that rose in the east. Godelinde felt 
 strangely anxious, a presentiment of evil overpowered her, and 
 she could not resist telling her daughter. 
 
 She said that she feared evil news was coming, for she had 
 dreamed the night before that Queen Helche had appeared to 
 her, surrounded by the Burgundians, and many other warriors 
 in full armour. " The queen," added Godelinde, " said that she 
 wished all these heroes to go with her. She took your father 
 and Giselher by the hand, and led them away, the others 
 following. I wished to join the procession, but she signed to 
 me to go back. Then they all vanished in a grey mist, out 
 of which a hill seemed to rise like " 
 
 She was interrupted by sounds of arrival. It was the pro- 
 cession of mourners who had come under Swemmeling's guidance. 
 The Margravine recognised Rudiger's horse and armour, and 
 the meaning of her dream was clear to her. But in the midst 
 of all her grief, she tried to keep up, that she might comfort 
 her daughter, who sat at her side, pale with terror. 
 
 The minstrel joined the ladies. The Margravine rose to meet 
 him, and said it was needless for him to tell his tale, for she 
 knew what had happened. A few moments later, they were 
 able to listen to what Swemmeling had to say ; so they asked
 
 304 THE NIBELUKGS* WOE. 
 
 him how the noble Rudiger had met with his death. He took 
 up his harp, and sang a song of the heroes who had kept 
 their faith, and had conquered in the battle of life. He told 
 how they come to the realms of Woden and of Freya, how they 
 float over earth and sea, and how they speak to their friends 
 in the breath of the wind and in the rustling of the leaves, 
 and thus bring them comfort in their sorrow. 
 
 After that he gave them all the details of what had occurred 
 at Etzelburg. On the following day Swemmeling had to continue 
 his journey. A few weeks after his departure, the Margravine 
 died of grief, and Dietelinde was left alone. She remained alone 
 for a long time, but when Dietrich reconquered the land of the 
 Amelungs, he took the orphan from Bechelaren, and brought 
 her to his wife, the noble Herrat, at whose court she won the 
 love of a bold warrior, whom she afterwards married. 
 
 Swemmeling made his way to Worms as rapidly as he could. 
 
 AT WORMS. 
 
 Meanwhile things were going on very quietly at Worms. 
 Queen Ute would sit spinning by the hour together, humming 
 many a weird ditty, but seldom speaking. Queen Brunhild 
 would sit by her side embroidering the death of Baldur, which 
 she copied from old patterns. Curiously enough, the white god 
 was not like the pattern, but rather resembled Siegfried. 
 
 " Look, mother Ute," she said. " Is it not strange that, in 
 spite of all my efforts, the picture will resemble Siegfried, as he 
 looked that day when he rode out hunting for the last time. 
 It is a sad story, and reminds me of an old legend that I used 
 to hear in my childhood, in Isenland, in which a murder was 
 committed for the sake of possessing a magic sword. It seems 
 to me that when Hagen comes back, I must get him to give 
 me Siegfried's sword, Balmung, that I may restore it to the
 
 THE LAMENT. 305 
 
 dead hero. Otherwise I fear that Burgundy will suffer as Isen- 
 land suffered through the theft of that other sword." 
 
 "Neither Hagen nor any of the others will ever return to 
 this house, on which the sin of bloodshed rests, as yet unex- 
 piated," said mother Ute ; and, breaking off, she began to hum 
 one of her strange, weird ditties, which was so gruesome that 
 none could listen to it without a shiver. About this time 
 Swemmeling arrived, and told the queens of the journey to the 
 land of the Huns, of the friendly reception the Burgundians had 
 met with from King Etzel, and then of the quarrel, the battle, 
 and its fatal results. No plaints, no weeping, no questions, 
 interrupted the minstrel's tale. When he came to an end, the 
 Lady Ute said : 
 
 " It is a sad tale, very, very sad, but it could not have been 
 otherwise, for much heroic blood was needed to wash away the 
 curse of murder from this house." 
 
 Neither did Brunhild weep. She made all necessary arrange- 
 ments for the comfort of her guests. She asked that the good 
 sword Balmung should be given to her, and, looking at the blood- 
 stains on the shining blade, she said : 
 
 " Grim Hagen stole this weapon out of Siegfried's grave. I will 
 take it back to the hero, now that it has been dipped in the blood 
 of his murderer, that he may rest in peace." 
 
 She went to the grave- mound with the sword, and did not re- 
 turn that day, nor during the night. When they sought her, they 
 found her lying dead beside Siegfried's coffin, on which she had 
 laid Balmung. 
 
 The Lady Ute went on spinning for many a day, and as she 
 span, she hummed a song of the snake-queen who murdered her 
 own brood. 
 
 The Burgundian nobles, and all the people, mourned for their 
 royal house and the fallen heroes. But when feuds arose in the 
 
 U
 
 THE NIB E LUNGS' WOE. 
 
 kingdom, they united, and raised the young son of Gunther and 
 Brunhild to the throne, appointing brave men to act as guardians 
 for the king so long as he remained a child.
 
 THE HEGELING LEGEND. 
 \ I. 
 
 HAGEN. 
 
 EALOUSLY strove the knights 
 in tilt and tournament to up- 
 hold their country's honour before Sigeband their king, when 
 he held the Midsummer feast at his high castle of Balian in 
 Ireland. Sweetly the minstrels sang the praise of warlike deeds;
 
 3 o8 THE HEGELING LEGEND. 
 
 and eagerly did boys of noble birth contend in games of hurling 
 the spear and shooting with the bow. But evermore did little 
 Hagen, the king's son, bear him best in the gentle strife ; and 
 the heart of his mother, the Lady Ute, was pleased. 
 
 One day the boys were amusing themselves by throwing their 
 spears at a target. Having thrown them all, they ran forward to 
 get their weapons again, the prince among the rest. As he could 
 run faster than his companions, he reached the target first, and 
 was busy pulling out his spear, when an old man called to the 
 children to run back and hide themselves, for danger was 
 approaching. He pointed up at the sky, crying, " A griffin ! " 
 
 The Lady Ute looked, and saw a dark spot in the sky. It 
 seemed too small to be dangerous. But it approached with the 
 swiftness of an arrow, and the nearer it came the bigger it grew. 
 All could now hear the noise made by its wings, and the sound 
 resembled the rushing of the storm. The other boys fled in terror, 
 but Hagen stood his ground boldly, and flung his spear with all 
 his childish strength at the great bird. The weapon grazed its 
 feathers harmlessly, and, at the same moment, it swooped down 
 upon the child and bore him off in its talons. 
 
 So the feasting and mirth that had reigned at Castle Balian 
 were turned into mourning, for the heir to the kingdom was 
 gone. There was no hope of rescue ; for though many a hero 
 would willingly have fought with the griffin, its flight was so 
 swift that no one could see where it was gone. Years passed 
 on, and the king and queen had no news of their boy. 
 
 The griffin carried Hagen over land and sea to its nest, which 
 it had built on a rock rising out of the water. It gave the boy 
 to its young ones to eat, and then flew away in search of new 
 booty. The little griffins fell upon the child, and prepared to 
 devour him, but he made ready for his defence, thrust back their 
 "bills with all his strength, and caught the birds by the throat
 
 HA GEN. 
 
 309 
 
 striving to throttle them. At length one of the griffins, which 
 was old enough to fly, caught him up, and carried him to the 
 branch of a tree, that it might enjoy the sweet morsel alon*. 
 The bough was too weak to bear their united weight ; it bent, 
 broke, and the monster fell with the boy into a thicket of thorns 
 beneath. The griffin fluttered away, and Hagen crept deeper 
 into the thicket, unheeding the thorns. At length he reached a 
 dark cave, where he sank down utterly exhausted When he 
 came to his senses, he saw a little girl of about his own age 
 standing a little way off and looking at him in astonishment. 
 He raised himself on his elbow to see her better, upon which 
 she fled to a greater distance, and no wonder, his appearance 
 was so frightful. He was dirty, wounded, and bleeding, and 
 his clothes hung about him in rags. He limped and crept as 
 well as he could after the girl, and found that she had taken 
 refuge in a large cave with two companions. They all shrieked 
 when they saw him, for they thought he was either a wicked 
 dwarf or a merman, who had followed them to devour them ; 
 but when he told them that he was a prince who had been 
 carried off by the griffin, and had only escaped from the mon- 
 ster as by a miracle, they were comforted, and shared their 
 scanty fare with him. 
 
 After that they told him their story, which was much the 
 same as his own. He found that the girl he had first seen was 
 called Hilde, and that she was an Indian princess ; the second 
 was Hildburg of Portugal ; and the third came from Isenland. 
 The maidens nursed their young companion with such care that 
 his wounds were soon healed. When he was well again, he 
 went out to provide the needful food, and ventured deeper into 
 the land than the maidens had ever done. He made himself a 
 bow and arrows, the latter of which he tipped with fish-bones, 
 and brought home small game of all kinds. As the children
 
 310 THE HEGELING LEGEND. 
 
 Jiad no fire, they were obliged to eat their food raw, but they 
 became all the stronger and hardier for that, and when Hagen 
 was twelve years old he was almost a man in size. 
 
 Meanwhile the young griffins were grown up, and were able 
 to go out in search of food for themselves, so that the boy could 
 no longer wander about as freely and fearlessly as before. Never- 
 theless, one evening he ventured down to the shore, and crept 
 under an overhanging rock which hid him from view. He looked 
 out at the foaming waves and the wild sea, which now looked 
 dark as night, and again was lighted up by the vivid flashes of 
 lightning that burst from the storm-clouds. He listened fearlessly 
 to the loud peals of thunder, the howling of the wind, and the 
 sound of the frantic waves dashing against the rocks. But sud- 
 denly he caught sight of a boat, struggling in unequal conflict 
 with the elements, and his heart was filled with hope and fear ; 
 of hope, because thoughts of home and his parents were awakened 
 in his breast ; of fear, because the boat seemed too weak to live 
 on such a sea. Then he saw it drive upon a point of rock. There 
 was one shriek of agony, and ship and crew were swallowed in 
 the waves. The storm raged on, until morning came, and seemed 
 with its soft light to calm the fury of the winds. On the strand 
 were scattered pieces of the wreck, and the corpses of the luckless 
 manners. Hagen was going to sally out in hopes of picking up 
 something useful, when he was stopped by hearing the whirr of 
 griffins' wings, and knew that the great birds had come down 
 to the shore, having scented the prey. While the monsters were 
 busied with their meal, the boy crept out of his hiding-place in 
 search of something to eat. But he only found drift-wood, and a 
 drowned man in full armour, with sword and bow, and a quiverful 
 of sharp-pointed arrows. He could have shouted aloud for joy, 
 for now he had arms, such as he used to see at his father's court 
 Quickly he donned the coat of mail, covered his head with the
 
 HA GEN. 3Vf 
 
 helmet, girded the sword to his side, picked up the steel bow and 
 the arrows. It was high time, for at this moment one of the 
 griffins swooped down upon him. He drew his bow with all his 
 strength, and the arrow struck his enemy in the breast, bringing 
 it down with fluttering wings. It fell at his feet, dead. A second 
 monster shared its fate, and now the three other birds attacked 
 him all at once ; but he slew them all with his sword. He took 
 the heads of the dead monsters to his friends in the cave, who had 
 passed a wakeful night in anxiety for him. Great was their joy 
 when they found that the griffins were dead. They accompanied 
 their hero to the place of his victory, they helped him to throw 
 the great birds into the sea, and then, true to pious custom, they 
 assisted him to heap up a mound over the dead warrior whose 
 weapons had helped Hagen to victory. Vainly did they seek 
 for provisions among the wreckage ; but they found a well-pre- 
 served box with flint and steel, which enabled them to make a 
 fire. So they were now able to enjoy a well-dressed meal, which 
 after their former privations seemed a perfect banquet. 
 
 Hagen went out hunting much more frequently than before, 
 and slew bears, wolves, panthers, and other wild beasts. Once, 
 however, he met with a curious creature. It was covered with 
 shining scales, its eyes glowed like red-hot coals, and horrible 
 grinders gleamed in its blood-red jaws. 
 
 He aimed a sharp arrow at its back ; but the point glanced 
 off the glittering scales, and the monster turned upon the lad. A 
 second arrow was likewise without effect. Hagen now drew his 
 sword ; but all his efforts were useless, and he only escaped the 
 terrible claws by his marvellous agility. When he was almost 
 exhausted by the long struggle, he at length saw his opportunity, 
 and plunged his weapon into the great jaws. Overcome with 
 fatigue, he seated himself on the still heaving body of the creature, 
 rie longed for a few drops of water to quench his thirst, and 

 
 3 I2 THE H EG E LING LEGEND. 
 
 as none was near, he eagerly drank of the blood that streamed 
 from the monster's wounds. Scarcely had he done this, when 
 his weakness vanished, and an unaccustomed sense of power took 
 possession of him. He sprang to his feet, longing to put his new 
 strength to the test. He would not have hesitated to fight all 
 the griffins and giants in the world. He drew his sword, and 
 slew a bear with one stroke. In like manner he killed two 
 panthers, and a rhinoceros. He was covered with blood from 
 head to foot, and looked so ferocious carrying the bear on his 
 shoulders, that he frightened the maidens in the cave ; but he 
 regained his accustomed manner when he had seen the gentle 
 Hilde. 
 
 Many years came and went. Hagen and his three friends 
 had enough to eat and drink, and were clothed in the skins of 
 wild beasts. Although they were very happy together, they 
 longed to get back to the haunts of men, and often cast anxious 
 looks over the sea in hopes of seeing some ship approach. At 
 length one morning, when the three maidens were standing on 
 the shore, a white sail appeared on the horizon, and came gra- 
 dually nearer and nearer. They lighted a fire, and called Hagen, 
 who joined them fully armed. Their signals were seen from the 
 ship, and a boat was sent out, which soon approached the shore. 
 The helmsman uttered a cry of astonishment when he saw their 
 strange dress, and asked if they were human beings or water- 
 sprites 
 
 " We are poor unfortunate people," said Hagen ; " take us with 
 you, for God's sake." 
 
 So the sailors took them to the ship, and they were soon on 
 board. The captain looked at them in amazement, and Hagen, 
 in answer to his questions, told their whole story. When he spoke 
 of his father Sigeband, the powerful king of Balian, the captain 
 exclaimed :
 
 HAG EN, 313 
 
 " What ! you can kill griffins like flies ! Still you are a lucky 
 catch for me, for I am that Count of Garadie to whom your father 
 has done so much injury. You shall now be hostage till a 
 proper sum of money is paid to me. Here, men, put this young 
 fellow in chains, and steer for Garadin." 
 
 Scarcely had the Count said these words when Hagen fell into 
 a Berseker rage. He flung the sailors, who would have laid hold 
 of him, into the sea : then, drawing his sword, he rushed upon 
 the master of the vessel, when a soft hand was laid upon his arm. 
 He turned round furiously ; but at the sight of Hilde's gentle, 
 lovely face, his terrible anger vanished. Hilde spoke gentle words 
 of conciliation, and Hagen listened. Then, turning to the Count, 
 he promised to make all matters right between him and the King, 
 if he would at once steer for Balian. The captain agreed to 
 do so, and steered for Ireland. Favourable winds swelled the 
 sails, and ten days later the walls and towers of Balian hove in 
 sight. Naturally his parents did not at first recognise Hagen ; 
 but great was their rejoicing when they found who he was. A 
 firm peace was concluded with the Count of Garadie, and the 
 three maidens were received with all honour and courtesy. 
 
 Hagen did not long remain quietly at home in his father's house. 
 He wished to see something of the world, and to gain both name 
 and fame. 
 
 Time passed on, and Hagen, who was known far and wide for 
 his great deeds, was appointed to rule the land in his old father's 
 place. When urged by his mother to choose a wife, now that he 
 had settled down after his wanderings, he wooed fair Hilde, the 
 sweet companion of his childhood, and soon afterwards married 
 her. 
 
 Queen Ute lived to hold a grandchild in her arms, who was 
 called Hilde after her mother ; but soon after that she nnd Sige- 
 band died, leaving their son to rule alone
 
 3'4 
 
 THE HECKLING LEGEND. 
 
 The Princess Hilde grew up beautiful, and many wooers came to 
 Balian to ask for her hand in marriage. But Hagen would receive 
 no man as a son-in-law without first fighting with him, declaring 
 that he would never give his daughter to one that was not stronger 
 than himself. Whoever ventured to try conclusions with him 
 had the worst of it. Wild Hagen, the terror of kings, became 
 also the terror of wooers, and before long, he really had his house 
 to himself.
 
 II. HETTEL THE HEGELING AND HIS HEROES. 
 
 XT OW about this time King Hettel the Hegeling lived at Castle 
 Matelane in Denmark. He was a bold warrior, and Nord- 
 land, Friesland, and Dietmarsch owed him allegiance. Many 
 princely heroes were about his throne. Chief among them was 
 his kinsman, old Wate, who bore rule in Sturmland, and was 
 famous for his doughty deeds of war. Not less celebrated were 
 the minstrels Horand and Frute, both powerful lords in Denmark. 
 Then came Irold the Swift from Friesland, and Morung of Nifland ; 
 bold warriors both, and ever ready to help their liege lord. 
 
 One evening, at the feast, Morung of Nifland advised King 
 Hettel to seek a wife, and said that Hilde, the Irish princess, 
 was the best maid for him to woo, for she was famous in all lands 
 for her beauty and virtue. And Horand answered, that the lady 
 was justly praised ; but that wild Hagen, her father, would permit 
 no man to woo her, and that many a noble warrior had met his 
 death in fighting with him for her hand. 
 
 The king was much taken with what he heard of fair Hilde, 
 and greatly desired to raise her to the Hegeling throne. He 
 asked who would undertake the wooing for him. The courtiers 
 advised him to make old Wate his ambassador, and although the 
 lord of Sturmland had no desire to go on any such errand, yet 
 /ie promised to set out, and said that if Horand and Frute would
 
 3 i6 THE HEGELING LEGEND. 
 
 accompany him he had no doubt the wooing would be suc- 
 cessful. 
 
 The three warriors, joined by Irold of Nordland, prepared to set 
 out on their journey. They took a small fleet of ships laden with 
 costly wares, and a thousand armed men, and started on their 
 mission. 
 
 After a long voyage they reached Balian, where wild Hagen 
 held his court. 
 
 Their arrival was greeted with the utmost amazement, for no 
 one in Ireland had ever seen such splendour before. The masts 
 of the Danish ships were of shining cypress-wood, the sails of 
 purple silk, and the anchors of silver. Sailors in rich garments 
 bore foreign wares from distant lands out of the ships, and 
 spread them before the astonished multitude. The captains 
 offered rich articles for sale, explaining that they were merchants, 
 and had come to Balian on a trading expedition. 
 
 When King Hagen heard what was going on at the wharf, he 
 and Queen Hilde went down to the ships to see what was to be 
 seen. Then Frute at once came forward, and, drawing him aside, 
 explained that they were not really merchants, but fugitives, who 
 desired to be protected from their king, Hettel the Hegeling. 
 
 Hagen laughed when he heard this, for he had long wished 
 to try his strength in single combat with the Danish king. So 
 he told the warriors to be of good courage, and to come up to 
 the palace with him. The strangers accepted the invitation. 
 They gave the king and queen rich presents of garments and 
 precious stones. Indeed, their riches seemed so inexhaustible, 
 that Hagen would willingly have kept them in the country, and 
 given them houses and lands. But they pleaded that they had 
 left their wives and children in Hegelingland, where they hoped 
 one day to return. 
 
 They all met in the banqueting-hall, and the strangers were
 
 HETTEL OF HEGELING AND HIS HEROES. 317 
 
 presented to the princess. Wate alone spoke little, and often 
 looked out towards the sea. 
 
 " Go, Hilde," whispered the queen, " and greet the foreign lord 
 with a kiss." 
 
 The girl started with fear, for the hero of Sturmland was a 
 full head taller than any of his comrades, and was a stern-featured 
 man, with a large hooked nose, bald head, and long grey beard. 
 
 "What are you looking at, Lord Wate ?" said the queen. "Do 
 you see fairer women on the shore than here in the hall ?" 
 
 " I am looking at my ship," answered the hero, " for a storm 
 is coming on." 
 
 Then the princess smiled and said : 
 
 " Are you not happy with us, noble warrior ? or do you always 
 wish to be out among storms and fighting ? " 
 
 " Lady," said Wate, " I never learned to talk sweet talk with 
 women, or to dance with girls. I only care for the dancing of 
 the stormy waves and for the din of battle, when the Norns sing 
 of conquest or a glorious death." 
 
 This was the speech of the stern old man. But the other 
 warriors talked of the lovely land of the Hegelings, of its 
 castles and granges, and of the minstrels and knights who 
 served their ladies in all honour and modesty. After this they 
 took leave of their hosts and retired. The next day passed, as 
 was usual on such occasions, in jousting, feasting, and minstrelsy. 
 
 Horand used to sing, early in the morning and in the late 
 evening, before the queen and her daughter, who were both de- 
 lighted with his voice and his songs. Once, when he was alone 
 with the princess, he sang about a great king who fell sick with 
 love for a beautiful maiden named Hilde. The princess felt 
 that there was something hidden behind the song. So she 
 asked at length who the king was that cared for her. Upon 
 which the minstrel showed her a portrait of King Hettel, and
 
 3 i8 THE HEGEI.ING LEGEND. 
 
 told her of her father's stern cruelty to all noble warriors who 
 came to Balian to woo the princess. He told her also on what 
 secret mission he and his friends had come, and entreated her 
 to come with them to Hegelingland, where the king was waiting 
 eagerly for her arrival. Once there, he continued, he would sing 
 to her every day, and so would King Hettel, who knew far more 
 beautiful songs than he. 
 
 Hilde promised that she would ask her father's permission to 
 go down to the ships and look at the strangely beautiful stuffs 
 and jewels on board. 
 
 What she promised she did. 
 
 One day the men of Hegeling came before King Hagen, and 
 said that they had good news from their home. Their king 
 had found that they had been falsely accused, and had therefore 
 restored them to his favour. They wished now to take leave of 
 Hagen, and return to their own land. The king was displeased 
 to think of losing his guests, and yet they should not go without 
 rich gifts. 
 
 " Sire," said Frute the Wise, " we are so rich that we cannotN 
 well accept either silver or gold ; but if you would show us a ., 
 kindness, come on board our galleys with the queen and her 
 ladies, and look at our treasures." 
 
 Wild Hagen shook his head, but his daughter and the queen 
 wished so much to go that he at length gave way. 
 
 At the appointed hour, when the sails were spread and the 
 ships were ready for departure, the king, queen, princess, and 
 their ladies appeared upon the strand. Boats were ready to 
 take them to the ships. Fair Hilde and her maid sprang 
 quickly into a boat steered by Horand. But when Hagen and 
 his armed followers were about to get into another boat, Wate, 
 Frute, and Irold thrust them back and pushed off from land. 
 The wild chieftain immediately caught up his spear, and rushed
 
 HETTEL OF HEGELING AND HIS HEROES. 319 
 
 into the sea till the waves dashed over his head. Spears were 
 hurled on either side, but Horand brought the princess safely 
 to the ship. Hagen ran along the shore and called despairingly 
 for ships and men to pursue the traitors ; but the Irish boats 
 were not ready for sea, and even at that moment the sails of the 
 Hegelings were disappearing in the distance. 
 
 The voyage lasted many days and many nights. Fair Hilde 
 wept much for her father and mother, but Horand sang to her, 
 now of great deeds, and now of love, till she was comforted. At 
 length they reached the coast, where King Hettel awaited them. 
 He came down to meet them, and soon gained fair Hilde's heart. 
 On the following morning they prepared to go to Matelane. But 
 when they were about to start, they saw white clouds appear on 
 the western horizon, which, as they came nearer, were discovered 
 to be ships forming a great fleet, and from the topmast of each 
 ship floated the banner of the cross. The Hegelings took it to 
 be a fleet of crusaders going out against the unbelieving Wilkin- 
 men or Reussen ; but very soon a flag was hoisted bearing the 
 arms of Hagen, a tiger, and then they knew that the enemy 
 was approaching. 
 
 King Hettel and old Wate drew out their men in battle array 
 on the strand. The old man laughed loud for joy that he was 
 really to have a passage of arms with the warlike Irish king. 
 The other princes advanced with their men to prevent the 
 enemy's landing. The warriors were all of good cheer ; but 
 fair Hilde, who looked down from the battlements of the castle 
 on the turmoil below, wrung her hands with grief that she 
 should be the cause of bloodshed. 
 
 The galleys cast anchor, and boats were put off filled with 
 armed men. The battle began, and so firm was the resistance 
 made to their landing that the boatmen could not approach the 
 shore. Then wild Hagen flung himself into the water and fought
 
 320 THE H EG E LING LEGEND. 
 
 his way to land, followed by his bravest men. His blows were 
 so terrible that he carried all before him, and even Hettel fell 
 wounded to the ground, and was with difficulty borne away 
 from the field. Old Wate now came forward, and he and 
 Hagen had a hand-to-hand encounter. Each fought like a lion, 
 and neither gave way in the least before the other, although both 
 were severely wounded. 
 
 At length King, Hettel, his head bandaged, and looking pale 
 from loss of blood, forced his way through the throng of com- 
 batants with Hilde leaning on his arm. He threw his arms 
 round Wate, while she did the same to her father, and entreated 
 them both to make peace for her sake. 
 
 Wild Hagen was touched by his daughter's words. He clasped 
 her in his arms, and then held out his hand, first to Hettel, and 
 then to the grim old hero of Sturmland. 
 
 Now that the battle was over, Wate went about binding the 
 wounds of all whom he found, whether of Irish or Hegeling birth, 
 with some healing herb, of whose virtues he was well aware. In 
 the evening there was a great feast, and next morning the 
 warriors all went to Matelane, where the marriage was to take 
 place. A ship was sent to bring good Queen Hilde to her 
 daughter's wedding, which was celebrated in the cathedral, with 
 all pomp and circumstance.
 
 III. GUDRUN. 
 
 TV 7 " ING Hettel and fair Hilde lived happily at Matclane, 
 *^* and the men of Hegeling, Friesland, and Dietmarsch, were 
 faithful subjects, out of love and gratitude for the justice and 
 protection afforded them by their liege lord. Two children were 
 born to the royal pair, Ortwin and Gudrun (pronounced Goodroon), 
 both of whom were strong and blooming as Nordland roses. As 
 the boy grew older, he was given into the charge of the hero of 
 Sturmland, that he might learn all that it became him to know 
 from the greatest warrior in the land. Gudrun remained at home 
 with her parents, and was instructed by her mother, both by 
 precept and example, in all woman's work and knowledge. So 
 she grew up, and became celebrated in every land for her beauty, 
 her gentleness, and her wisdom. 
 
 Many noble princes came to woo her while she was yet very 
 young. Among them was the proud Moorish king, Siegfried, 
 gigantic in height, and brown of hue. With many kings for 
 tributaries, he felt himself so great, that he feared no refusal. 
 Queen Hilde, however, thought the hero too arbitrary in his 
 manners, and ignorant of the proper way to treat women. 
 Hettel was of the same opinion ; so he told the wooer that the 
 maiden was too young to be able to conduct a royal household. 
 The Moorish king returned to his distant realm in great anger 
 and disgust But before leaving Matelane, he had bribed some
 
 322 THE HEGELING LEGEND. 
 
 faithless men with gold to keep him informed of all that went 
 on in the land of the Hegelings. 
 
 Now, at this time, King Ludwig ruled over Normandy and 
 the neighbouring lands. He was a great and warlike king. 
 His son, Hartmut, was like his father in character, and helped 
 him in his wars. When the latter heard of Gudrun, he deter- 
 mined to woo her for his wife. King Ludwig thought it a 
 mistake, because the, maiden's grandfather, Hagen, had once 
 been his feudal superior, and had never forgiven him for having 
 freed Normandy from the Irish yoke ; also he believed that 
 Queen Hilde had inherited her father's temper. The Lady 
 Gerlind, Ludwig's queen, was of a different opinion : she thought 
 that Hartmut was worthy of the noblest wife in Christendom, 
 and that, if they only set about the matter in the right way, 
 his offer would be accepted. The young warrior was pleased 
 with his mother's counsel, so ambassadors were sent to the 
 Hegeling court, bearing rich presents. Queen Hildc accepted 
 the gifts with gracious courtesy, thanked the ambassadors for 
 bringing them, and added that she supposed the lord of Nor- 
 mandy wished, to pay off an old debt which he owed her father 
 as his liege lord. The warriors were kindly treated, although 
 the king and queen heard their message with displeasure, and 
 said that the husband of their daughter must be of higher birth 
 than the lord of Normandy. The ambassadors, seeing that no 
 good would come of their further stay, returned to Ludwig with 
 their evil tidings. 
 
 The Norman king was not much surprised at the result of 
 the embassy ; but the Lady Gerlind, whose ancestors had been 
 powerful kings, chafed under the affront, and advised her son 
 to avenge the insult with his sword. But the young prince had 
 thought of another plan. He possessed strongholds and granges 
 in Scotland. So he determined to go a-wooing himself in
 
 GUURON ON THE SHORE. 
 
 323
 
 GUDRUN. 325 
 
 Scottish garb, accompanied by a large train of attendants. He 
 was a hero, learned in all knightly duties, tall, manly, and 
 strikingly handsome. He was accustomed to ladies' smiles, and 
 to meet with kindness from women wherever he went ; so he 
 never for a moment doubted his power of winning the love of 
 the Princess Gudrun. The ships were manned, a favourable 
 wind filled the sails, but soon fell again, and the voyage was 
 a very slow one. 
 
 Meanwhile, another suitor had arrived at Matelane. This was 
 bold Herwig, lord of Zealand. He was a brave warrior, cele- 
 brated in many a victory ; a faithful friend and loyal foe. Fair 
 curls surrounded his face, and his blue eyes shone with in- 
 telligence. 
 
 The maiden and he soon learned to understand each other, 
 and before a word of love was spoken, each knew the other's 
 feelings. 
 
 When Hartmut arrived, in the guise of a Scottish prince, he 
 soon discovered what was going on. 
 
 A favourable chance led Hartmut to the garden one day, and 
 there he found Gudrun alone. He told her of his love, and at 
 the same time explained who he was. She was startled, but 
 soon recovering herself, answered that she cared for some one 
 else. She further told him to beware how he betrayed his 
 identity, for her father and mother regarded King Ludwig as 
 a vassal, and his life would be in danger if they knew his name 
 and quality. The word vassal brought an angry flush to the 
 young hero's cheek ; he did not, however, betray his feelings, 
 but took leave of the maid in seemly fashion, and, after saying 
 farewell to the king and queen, set sail for his own land. 
 
 Herwig lingered on at the palace in the hope that he might 
 find some opportunity of seeing and speaking to the princess 
 alone. But, whether by accident, or because the queen prevented
 
 326 THE HEGELING LEGEND. 
 
 it, he never found his opportunity. So he went boldly to the 
 kin?, and made a formal offer for Gudrun's hand. Hettel 
 
 O* 
 
 listened to him calmly, and told him that the maiden was too 
 young to marry. This, however, was merely an excuse, for he 
 really thought the king of Zealand was too poor a match for 
 his peerless daughter. 
 
 Herwig found no rest at home. He assembled his forces, 
 and prepared to invade the land of the Hegelings. His army 
 only consisted of three thousand warriors, but they were one 
 and all tried men of valour, on whom he could rely. Hettel 
 was totally unprepared for the invasion. His heroes were at 
 their own homes, or scattered abroad ; but he collected what 
 men he could, and went out against the foe. Soon the clang 
 of arms sounded on the strand, and the battle began. It raged 
 fiercely for a long time. At length Queen Hilde, taking Gudrun 
 with her, and followed by her ladies, descended to the place 
 of combat, and spoke so wisely that she soon induced the men 
 to put up their weapons, and make peace. Hettel was so much 
 pleased with the boldness and valour displayed by Herwig, that 
 he consented to receive him as his son-in-law, but stipulated 
 that the marriage should not take place for a year. 
 
 Herwig spent some time at Matelane in company with certain 
 other warriors, and at midsummer, young Ortwin and several 
 of his friends received their swords at the hands of old Wate 
 of Sturmland, who bade them act in all things so as to be soon 
 worthy of the honour of knighthood. At the jousts that fol- 
 lowed, the young men's prowess gladdened their teacher's heart. 
 But the rejoicings came to a sudden end through the arrival 
 of some wounded men from Zealand, who brought news that 
 the Moorish king, Siegfried, had fallen upon the island, and was 
 laying the country waste. 
 
 Hettel determined to send troops to help Herwig against the
 
 GUDRUN. 327 
 
 Moors ; but the king of Zealand would not wait until they 
 could be summoned ; he set out at once, saying that they could 
 follow, and he would meantime go and show his people that 
 he had not deserted them. 
 
 Herwig landed in a small bay. His heart was wrung when 
 he saw the devastation caused by the cruel Moor, and knew 
 that he was not strong enough to offer him battle. But he 
 was not idle for all that. He and his three thousand followers 
 separated into companies, cut off isolated bands of free- 
 booters, and harassed the enemy as much as they could. So 
 matters went on for days and weeks. At length the Hegeling 
 fleet arrived with Hettel and his heroes. A great battle was 
 fought by sea and land, but, although the Moors suffered terrible 
 loss, both in men and ships, it was by no means a decisive battle. 
 Siegfried knew that he had now no hope of winning the victory 
 in open war, but still he trusted to the chapter of accidents to 
 get him out of his difficulties. And he did not hope in vain. 
 
 Whilst King Hettel and his heroes were fighting in Zealand, 
 Hartmut, with a large Norman army, had fallen upon the land 
 of the Hegelings. Ludwig had accompanied his son. Together 
 they had stormed the palace at the head of their men, had 
 taken it, and had carried away the Princess Gudrun and her 
 maidens ; amongst whom was Hildburg, granddaughter of that 
 Hildburg whom Hagen found on the griffin's strand. 
 
 The first messenger, who brought the news of the Norman inva- 
 sion, was soon followed by a second, with tidings of the storming 
 of the castle, and the carrying off of Gudrun. The first thought 
 in every mind was to set off in pursuit of the robbers ; King 
 .Hettel sent to offer terms to Siegfried, telling him at the same time 
 of what, had chanced, and the Moorish king immediately offered 
 to help to rescue the princess ; so an alliance was concluded 
 between Hettel, Herwig, and Siegfried without more ado.
 
 32 8 THE HEGELING LEGEND. 
 
 This being settled, they turned their attention to the ships ; but 
 great was their despair when they found that most of them had 
 been burnt in the fight, and of those that remained very few were 
 seaworthy. Herwig and his men would have started alone in the 
 few vessels that remained, but Irolt the Frisian stopped them, by 
 drawing their attention to a fleet that was already approaching the 
 shore. The masts and flags of the coming ships all bore the sign 
 of the cross, and on deck were figures in long grey garments, with 
 the staff of peace in their hands. 
 
 " They are pilgrims going to the Holy Sepulchre," said Horand 
 the minstrel. 
 
 The pilgrims disembarked and pitched their tents on the strand, 
 to enjoy a little rest after their long and toilsome voyage. 
 
 " Necessity knows no law," said Wate. " These pious men must 
 put off their journey for a little. They have plenty of time to do 
 their penance in. Let us borrow their vessels and provisions. If 
 we return, we can reward them rfchly for the enforced loan." 
 
 Horand and Frute warned their friends that such a deed would 
 surely bring its punishment. The pilgrims raised their hands in 
 piteous entreaty. All in vain. King Hettel decided to take the 
 ships, and Wate and Herwig voted with him. 
 
 So the heroes sailed over the high seas in pursuit of the Nor- 
 mans, in ships that bore the cross as their pennon. 
 
 After many days' sail they saw before them a low flat island, 
 called the Wolpensand, and on it a great army was encamped, upon 
 whose banners was depicted a raven with widespread wings, the 
 ensign of the Normans. They were able to get quite close to the 
 land, thanks to the pilgrims' ships, before their real character 
 was discovered. But no sooner was it known, than the Normans 
 sprang to their feet, and shouting their battle-cry, stood ready 
 to defend themselves. 
 
 The battle began. Lances and arrows filled the air, and many a
 
 GUDR&N. 3 29 
 
 deed of desperate valour was done on either side. Darkness alone 
 put an end to the fight. The victory was undecided. It was 
 a dark and cloudy night, and the flickering watch-fires alone 
 threw any light upon the scene. Then it was that King Hettel 
 challenged Ludwig to single combat, telling him that he should 
 always regard him as a coward if he did not at once arm him 
 for the fray. Ludwig accepted the challenge, and came out to 
 meet the king. Many a shrewd blow did the heroes exchange 
 before Ludwig at length gave his adversary his death-wound 
 Seeing their leader fall, the Hegelings rushed forward shouting theii 
 battle-cry, and a general engagement took place in the darkness. 
 None could tell friend from foe, and many a brave warrior fell 
 under his comrade's spear. The leaders on either side ordered the 
 horns to blow the recall, and the two armies took up their position 
 at a greater distance from each other than before.' Knowing the 
 vengeance the Hegelings would take on the following day, the 
 Normans thought prudence the better part of valour, and set sail 
 for home under cover of the night, taking their prisoners with 
 them ; for they were on their way home from Hegelingland. 
 
 At daybreak, old Wate called his men to be up and doing. 
 Great was the astonishment of all when they found their enemy 
 flown. Wate and Herwig were keen to follow the Normans with- 
 out loss of time, but Frute and Morung advised them to be pru- 
 dent. They reminded them of the numbers of men they had lost, 
 and advised that they should go home, and wait till the young 
 men, who were growing up, should be old enough to bear arms. 
 
 The wisdom of this advice was recognised by all. Herwig alone 
 felt indignant, but he was powerless to act unaided, so he returned 
 to Zealand to work for his people, until the time should come to 
 renew the expedition. 
 
 Queen Hilde was sad at heart when she saw the Hegelings 
 return vanquished, and without either her husband or daughter.
 
 THE HEGELING LEGEND. 
 
 But what could she do ? She was only a weak woman, unable to 
 wield a sword, to avenge Hettel or to save Gudrun. 
 
 Horand, Morung, and Irolt mourned the dead king with her, 
 but old Wate chid them for women, and bade them rouse them- 
 selves, and teach the youth of the land all warlike accomplishments, 
 to the end that they might win the day when the time for ven- 
 geance came.
 
 IV. QUEEN GERUND. 
 
 TV /[" EAN WHILE the Norman fleet had reached its destination. 
 
 ** Queen Gerlind, her gentle daughter Ortrun, their ladies, 
 and many of the citizens of Cassian went down to the harbour to 
 welcome the heroes home. After they had greeted the kings, Ortrun 
 hastened to sad Gudrun's side, and, embracing her, told her to be 
 of good courage. Gudrun was touched by the maiden's kindness, 
 though it could not stop her tears ; but when Queen Gerlind 
 would have kissed her, she recoiled from her touch, for the sharp- 
 featured woman with the bold, glittering eyes seemed to her a 
 spiteful snake, ready to dart on his prey and crush it in his coils. 
 
 " Eh, pretty puppet," said the offended queen. " What, so shy ? 
 But you'll soon grow tame under my training." She would have 
 said more, but Hartmut interposed, saying that Gudrun was to be 
 his wife when the days of mourning for her father were over. He 
 then offered the princess his arm, and sorely against her will, she 
 had to enter the palace side by side with him. Some of the towns- 
 folk, watching her, said, " How beautiful she is ! " to which others 
 made answer, " But how sad ! " 
 
 Days and weeks passed on. Hartmut did his best to win fair 
 Gudrun's love, but all his efforts were vain. One day he asked her 
 why she would not love him, and she replied that he was a great 
 and noble warrior, well worthy of a woman's love, but she was 
 betrothed to Herwig, and would never break her troth. Queen 
 
 33
 
 332 THE HEGELING LEGEND. 
 
 Gerlind was not of so patient a disposition as her son : she was 
 determined to break Gudrun's proud spirit, and force her to consent 
 to marry Hartmut At first she tried soft words and flattering 
 speeches ; but finding these of no avail, she had recourse to sterner 
 measures, though she waited till her son had left home on a warlike 
 expedition. Before going he confided Gudrun to his mother's care, 
 telling her she might " try to tame the wild bird " in any fashion 
 she liked, that was not inconsistent with the maiden's royal dignity. 
 
 No sooner was Hartmut gone, than Queen Gerlind set to work. 
 She made Gudrun dress like a servant, and then set her and 
 her maidens to cook and sweep, and do all the hardest work in 
 the palace. Gudrun bore her wrongs in patient silence. Her soft 
 hands were blistered with scrubbing pots and pans, and doing 
 other kitchen work, with which she was busied from early morning 
 till late at night. The queen would sometimes ask her viciously 
 if she would not rather wear the Norman crown than continue 
 to slave in that manner, but she answered gently that she would 
 keep her troth. 
 
 So she did all that was given her to do through the hot 
 summer days, and in the icy cold of winter, without uttering a 
 single murmur at her hard fate. 
 
 Year after year she lived this wretched life. At length Hartmut 
 came home victorious from his wars. He greeted his father, 
 mother, and sister with warm affection, and then looked round 
 for Gudrun. When he saw her dressed in coarse clothing, and 
 doing hard work, he was very angry with his mother for her ill- 
 treatment of the girl. He begged Gudrun to forgive what was past 
 and gone, and grant him her love, trying to rouse her ambition by 
 dwelling on the wealth and greatness of the kingdom he offered 
 to skare with her. But Gudrun answered that a noble-minded 
 woman could love but once, and never again. So he left her, but 
 took care to protect her from Gerlind's malice.
 
 QUEEN GERUND. 333 
 
 Gudrun was restored to her former position, and slept that night 
 in her old room. Next morning, when she awoke, she found the 
 princess Ortrun, whom she had not seen for a long time, bending 
 over her. The two girls spent the summer together, and learnt 
 to love each other warmly. As autumn came on, Gudrun thought 
 that her friend looked graver and sadder than her wont, and 
 asked her the reason of the change. Ortrun then confessed 
 that as Gudrun had not given way to Hartmut's entreaties, but 
 remained obdurate as ever, Gerlind intended to separate her 
 daughter from the Hegeling princess. 
 
 While the two girls were talking, Hartmut joined them, and 
 said : 
 
 " Lady Gudrun, the warrior to whom you plighted your troth is 
 not worthy of your love, otherwise he would not have allowed so 
 many years to pass without coming in search of you at the head 
 of his men. He has forgotten you, and is most likely married to 
 another." 
 
 " You do not know him, noble hero," answered Gudrun ; " death 
 alone, which looses all bonds, could separate us." 
 
 " What if he has fallen in battle, or has died of some illness ? " 
 asked the young king. 
 
 " Then he shall find me faithful when I join him where there is 
 no more parting," replied the princess, with a look of courageous 
 resolve. 
 
 So Hartmut took leave of her, and again went away to try and 
 forget her amid the excitement of battle. 
 
 When he was gone, Queen Gerlind once more deposed Gudrun 
 from her high estate, and sent her to wash the clothes, making her 
 work from early morning till late at night, and threatening her with 
 the rod if she were lazy ; but the princess worked too hard to give 
 her an excuse for inflicting this last indignity. 
 
 More years passed on, and at length Hartmut returned vie-
 
 334 THE HEGELING LEGEND. 
 
 torious as at first. He spoke to Gudrun, but found her faithful as 
 ever to Herwig. 
 
 Gerlind, after this, was harder than ever to Gudrun. The other 
 Hegeling maidens were given lighter tasks than she. They had to 
 spin and card flax and wool, while their beloved mistress had to 
 wash the clothes all the cold winter through, and often, on her 
 return from the shore, she sank into an exhausted sleep on her 
 straw pallet, without having the strength first to take off her 
 wet garments. At last matters came to such a pass that her cousin 
 Hildburg could hold her peace no longer, and asked the queen how 
 she dared treat a princess with such cruelty and disrespect. Upon 
 which Gerlind set her to join her mistress in her work. 
 
 This was just what Hildburg wanted. Her great desire was 
 to be with her mistress, to cheer and comfort her, and lighten 
 her toil. Still Gudrun had often to go down to the shore alone 
 when Hildburg was busy at the castle. On one of these occasions 
 she saw a swan come swimming over the sea. 
 
 " O swan, had I thy wings, I would soar into the sky and hie 
 me to my home." 
 
 While she spoke, the swan dived into the sea, and in its place 
 up came a mermaid : 
 
 " O heart long tried and true, thy grief shall pass away : thy 
 lover and thy kindred live, and lo, they hasten to thy rescue." 
 
 So saying, the mermaid dived, and again the white swan floated 
 on the wave. He spread his wings and rose in the air, flew three 
 times round the princess, and sang : 
 
 " True love on the earth may yet be found, 
 True hearts that never roam ; 
 Lo, through the breakers' foam 
 'Tis thy warrior's bark o'er the wave doth bound, 
 To lead his true-love home." 
 
 It was well for Gudrun that she had this secret hope to support
 
 MEETING OF OLD FRIENDS. 
 
 336
 
 QUEEN GERUND. 337 
 
 her, for Gerlind's cruelty grew daily more intolerable. The prin- 
 cess and Hildburg were forced to wash the clothes on the sea- 
 shore, dressed in simple linen shifts, and without shoes. When they 
 begged for shoes, the cold was so terrible, their taskmistress gave 
 them insulting words, and threatened to scourge them with thorns 
 if their day's work were not finished by evening. Trembling with 
 cold in the cutting east wind, and their beautiful hair blowing about 
 their faces, they worked on busily. Suddenly they saw a boat 
 gliding swiftly along the shore, rowed by two warriors in full 
 armour. The maidens, ashamed of their insufficient clothing, 
 would have fled, but the men called to them to stop, and tell them 
 what castle that was on the height above. When they added that 
 they would throw the linen into the sea unless they received an 
 answer, the girls came back, and as they did so, Gudrun whis- 
 pered : 
 
 ' See, it is Hervvig. I know him well, but he he has for- 
 gotten me." 
 
 And in good truth the hero was unaware that his long-lost bride 
 stood there before him ; but no sooner had she pushed her flutter- 
 ing hair back from her face, than he recognised her, hastened to 
 her, and clasped her in his arms. When the other warrior opened 
 his visor, Gudrun exclaimed, " Ortwin ! " and threw herself into 
 her brother's arms. 
 
 Then Ortwin turned to her companion, and said, taking her hand 
 in his: 
 
 "It is you, Hildburg ! Do not be ashamed to confess that 
 you and I have long loved each other, and would have been 
 openly betrothed years ago, had not the Normans carried you 
 off." 
 
 They then exchanged the kiss of betrothal. 
 
 Herwig wished to take the two girls away with them at once, but 
 Ortwin would not consent. He said they must come openly on the 
 
 Y
 
 338 THE HEGEL1NG LEGEND. 
 
 morrow for Gudrun and Hildburg, who should never run away 
 secretly from their captors. 
 
 The two girls stood on the shore watching the boat as long 
 as it was in sight At length Hildburg in startled accents 
 begged her friend to help her to finish the washing. But Gudrun 
 answered proudly that the days of her slavery were over, and, 
 so saying, she cast one garment after another into the sea, and 
 watched them floating away on the waves with a smile ; while 
 poor Hildburg tremblingly remembered that they were still in 
 the power of the Norman queen. 
 
 When they reached the castle, Gerlind came down to meet 
 them, asking why they were so early, and what they had done 
 with the linen. Gudrun answered that the work was too hard 
 for them, and that she had thrown the clothes into the sea, where 
 Queen Gerlind's men might find them yet, if she did not delay 
 too long in sending out boats. The queen was dumb with 
 astonishment when she heard the gentle, patient Gudrun speak- 
 to her in such a manner ; but soon recovering herself, she 
 called her bond-women to fetch thorny rods, and beat the 
 maidens for their insolence. The women hastened to do as they 
 were desired ; but Gudrun called to them to stop, telling them 
 to touch her at their peril, for she would be their queen on 
 the morrow. 
 
 "And will you really marry Hartmut ?" asked Gerlind joyfully. 
 " I fear there is some trick in this." 
 
 " Bring the king here," said Gudrun ; " I would speak with 
 him." 
 
 The queen went thoughtfully to her son, and said : 
 
 " Hartmut, that obstinate girl has given in at last, and has 
 consented to be your wife, but . . ." 
 
 " No ' but,'" cried the hero, " she consents ! mother, I must hear 
 her say so with her own lips," and he hastened from the room.
 
 QUEEN GERUND 
 
 339 
 
 When he saw Gudrun, he would have clasped her in his arms 
 but she signed to him not to approach her, telling him that 
 she could not listen to him in the abode of her misery ; but 
 that next morning, in the full light of day, and in presence of 
 all the warriors, she would receive, and give the bridal ring. 
 Hartmut now gave orders that Gudrun should be provided with 
 all that was necessary for the comfort and well-being of the 
 future queen, and that her maidens should be restored to her. 
 
 His orders were fulfilled. The princess and Hildburg kept 
 their secret well. It was not till the Hegeling maidens were all 
 safe in their sleeping chamber that they heard of the arrival of 
 Ortwin and Herwig.
 
 V. BATTLE AND VICTORY. 
 
 BEFORE day-break one of the maidens stationed herself at 
 the window, and gazed anxiously over the sea. After some 
 time she saw vessels full of armed men approaching the shore ; 
 and, with difficulty restraining a cry of joy, she wakened her 
 mistress and told her the good news. Not long after, the alarm 
 was given from the tower, where the sleepy watchman had just 
 woke up. 
 
 Queen Gerlind had her wits about her more than any one else. 
 She did not need to be told who the enemy were, and had 
 given the requisite orders to the garrison before Ludwig's and 
 Hartmut's eyes were well open. But when the kings were ready, 
 they countermanded her orders, and instead of defending the 
 castle, marched out to meet the foe in spite of all her warnings 
 and entreaties. 
 
 Each party moved forward to meet the other in close array, 
 and no sooner had they met than the battle began. Ortwin 
 and Hartmut fought hand to hand, and Ortwin had well been 
 overthrown, had not bold Horand struck up the Norman's spear. 
 But he too was unable to withstand the king, and was soon 
 afterwards carried to the rear by his men, severely wounded. 
 Meantime Herwig and Ludwig had met, and after a terrible 
 combat, the latter was slain. 
 
 "The king is dead!" cried his men, and they fled incontinently,
 
 BATTLE AND VICTORY. 34 r 
 
 pursued by the victor, strong Irolt, and Siegfried the Moor. 
 The old hero of Sturmland pressed the advantage. His sword- 
 arm was never still for a moment, and he was always in the front 
 rank. When the terrified Normans fled to the castle, they found, 
 to their horror, that he was close behind them. They only got 
 the great gate shut just in time. But Wate was not to be done. 
 He shouted to his men to bring up ladders and storming tackle, 
 meaning to scale the wall. 
 
 Hartmut, ignorant of his father's death, had continued to fight 
 bravely, till he saw that the Normans were flying. He then 
 retreated slowly to the castle with his immediate followers. 
 Looking up at the battlements, he saw Queen Gerlind giving a 
 man a naked sword, and pointing with fierce earnestness to the 
 women's apartments in the castle. He knew his mother, and 
 feared that she was telling the man to go and murder the 
 Hegeling women, so he exclaimed in a loud voice of com- 
 mand : 
 
 " Coward ! If you raise your hand to murder any woman, I 
 will have you hung before sunset." 
 
 The man let the sword fall to the ground, and slunk away. 
 At this moment Hartmut, to his intense amazement, caught sight 
 of old Wate at the castle gate. He looked round for help, 
 but Ludwig was nowhere to be seen ; on every side waved the 
 banners of the Hegelings and their allies, and their foremost 
 men were fast closing round him and his little band. Hartmut 
 was too brave to fly ; he prepared to defend himself to the last. 
 The lord of Sturmland now came forward to attack him ; and 
 although he fought desperately, it had gone ill with him, if 
 Herwig had not thrown himself in the old warrior's way, and 
 pleaded for his rival's life. In the heat of the conflict, Wate 
 did not notice who it was that addressed him ; he brought down 
 one of his sledge-hammer blows on Herwig's head, and the king
 
 34 , THE HEGELING LEGEND. 
 
 of Zealand was stretched unconscious on the ground beside many 
 a dead and dying Norman. This restored the wild lord of 
 Sturmland to his senses. Leaving Hartmut alone, he bent over 
 his friend, and, to his joy, discovered him to be whole and sound. 
 As soon as Herwig was on his feet again, Wate asked : 
 
 " What devil possessed you to make me spare the life of that 
 Norman robber?" 
 
 " No devil at all," replied Herwig ; " the noble Gudrun loves 
 the Princess Ortrun, and, for her sake, begged that Hartmut's life 
 should be spared." 
 
 " Women, women ! " cried the old warrior. " They are all 
 alike. They have soft hearts, as easily moved as a fleecy cloud 
 is blown by the breeze. But now let us haste, and trap the 
 she-wolf in her lair." 
 
 At length the castle gate was burst open, and the hero of 
 Sturmland cut his way through the small crowd of defenders 
 to the women's apartments. There he found Gudrun surrounded 
 by all the frightened women in the palace, while Ortrun and 
 Gerlind knelt at her feet and entreated her protection. 
 
 "Where is the she-wolf?" shouted Wate. "Speak, Gudrun, 
 and you others !" 
 
 He was awful to look upon, with his grim, stern face, his armour 
 and sword dripping with the blood of his enemies ; but Gudrun 
 did not quail, nor did she utter a single word to betray the 
 cruel woman who had used her so badly. She sat still and 
 quiet, full of a gentle dignity, and looked at the angry old man 
 without blenching. 
 
 He cast a quick glance round the room in search of Gerlind, 
 and as he did so, one of the maidens pointed to the queen. 
 The moment he saw the glittering, snaky eyes, he caught Gerlind 
 by the hair, and dragging her to the battlements, cut off her 
 head, and flung both it and the body over the wall.
 
 GERUND AND ORTRUN AT GUDR0N'S FEET. 
 
 343
 
 BATTLE AND VICTORY. 345 
 
 "Now the other!" he cried, rushing up to the terrified Ortrun ; 
 " she belongs to the serpent's brood, and must share her mother's 
 fate." 
 
 But Gudrun held the maiden tightly clasped in her arms, and 
 told the grim warrior of all the love and tenderness that Ortrun 
 had shown her, so Wate was fain to be satisfied with the ven- 
 geance he had already wreaked. 
 
 Meanwhile the fighting outside the castle had also ceased. The 
 Norman hero, weary to death, had surrendered with the eighty 
 warriors that were left him. 
 
 Three days later, the victorious army went on board their 
 ships, and set sail for the land of the Hegelings, leaving Morung 
 and his men to garrison Cassian. Hartmut, and Ortrun with 
 thirty of her maidens, had to accompany their conquerors. On 
 their way they touched at Wolpensand, where Queen Hilde had 
 had a minster built, and the bones of those who fell in the old 
 fight buried ; and there the heroes gave solemn thanks for their 
 great victory. Ortrun sat alone in the churchyard, looking at 
 the graves : she thought of her slain father, and wished that she 
 too were at rest. But Gudrun coming up to her, took her by 
 the hand and led her to the Moorish king Siegfried, who desired 
 to gain her love. During the remainder of the voyage, Gudrun 
 managed to throw the two much together, and delighted in 
 telling Ortrun of Siegfried's noble and warlike deeds. 
 
 In the meantime Queen Hilde, and Hergart, Herwig's sister, 
 often sat together at a window overlooking the sea. The Hege- 
 ling army must soon return, but how would it return ? and would 
 Gudrun have kept her troth ? Hilde was not so hopeful as her 
 young companion, for she was more used to sorrow. One day 
 when they were at the window as usual, Hergart saw the fleet 
 appear in the distance, and uttering a cry of joy, told Queen 
 Hilde that their friends were coming back.
 
 346 THE HECKLING LEGEND. 
 
 Before the queen and her ladies could get down to the shore, 
 Wate had already landed. On seeing the queen, he at once 
 told her the good news. 
 
 The rest of the ships were not long in arriving, and soon Hilde 
 had the pleasure of embracing her daughter, the long-lost Gudrun. 
 Time passed on, and joy reigned in every breast but one. Hart- 
 mut ate out his soul in sadness. Gentle Hergart pitied him, and 
 begged Queen Hilde to use her influence to have him set at liberty, 
 and allowed to return to his kingdom. But Hilde explained how 
 impossible it was to let a man go free who was sure to bear 
 them deadly enmity, and attack them when he could. Hartmut 
 one day by accident overheard Hergart pleading for him so 
 tenderly and so wisely that he was deeply touched. He began to 
 think that she was, if possible, even more beautiful than Gudrun, 
 and took the first opportunity he could find of speaking to her. 
 It was not long before they learnt to love each other. Hartmut 
 told the queen about it, and asked for her consent to his marriage 
 with Hergart, which she at once granted, and at the same time 
 gave him back his sword and freedom, for the husband of sweet 
 Hergart could never be aught else than the friend of the Hege- 
 lings 
 
 A few weeks later, a great marriage feast was held, in which 
 four couples appeared before the altar to receive a priestly blessing 
 on their vows ; after which they adjourned to the banqueting-hall, 
 where all old scores were forgiven and forgotten for the sake of 
 the happiness that now prevailed. Then the old minstrel, Horand, 
 took up his harp and sang his last song. In it he told of the 
 great deeds he had known ; he sang of noble lives and noble 
 deaths, of truth and constancy ; and when he ceased, there was 
 not a dry eye in the hall, for even the grim lord of Sturmland 
 was seen to dash away a tear.
 
 BEOWULF FIGHTS WITH GRENDEL S 
 MOTHER. 
 
 BEOWULF. 
 
 (I.E., BEE- WOLF, OR WOODPECKER.) 
 
 I. GRENDEL. 
 
 evening while the warriors were feasting in King Hrod- 
 gar's hall, a minstrel was called upon to sing. He tuned 
 his harp, and sang of the coming of Skiold, the son whom Odin 
 sent to live a human life among mortal men. He told how the 
 babe had been seen lying on a shield floating on the waves of the 
 sea, how he had been drawn ashore and carefully tended, and how 
 he had become a mighty king and warrior in Jutland. He sang 
 of Skiold's glorious life, of the kingdom he had left to his children 
 
 34T
 
 34 8 THE HEGELING LEGEND. 
 
 and grandchildren ; and last of all he sung of Hrodgar, Skiold's 
 most famous grandson, who, like him, was the patron of all 
 peaceful arts, the protector of all peaceful folk, and the punisher 
 of evil-doers. 
 
 Many heroes were collected round the king that night at Hirsch- 
 halle, so called from the gigantic antlers of a royal stag, which, 
 carved in stone, adorned the battlements. At length the time 
 came for the warriors to separate for the night, and as there were 
 too many of them to be accommodated elsewhere, beds were made 
 up for them in the great hall. Two and thirty brave men lay 
 down to sleep on the couches spread for them ; but next morning, 
 when the servants came to waken them, they were gone. The 
 room was in confusion, here and there might be seen stains of 
 blood, and other signs of struggle. 
 
 King Hrodgar came himself as soon as he heard what had 
 chanced, and examined the place carefully to try and find out the 
 cause of the disaster. He followed the blood-stains through the 
 hall, and out of doors, and there, in the soft earth, he saw the 
 deep footprints of a giant. The whole affair was clear to him 
 now. He knew that the monster Grendel, who had been banished 
 the land by the aid of a great magician, had at length returned. 
 When it became known that Grendel had come back, ten warriors 
 offered to keep watch in the hall, and fight the giant if he tried 
 to come in. Next morning they were gone. They had either 
 been surprised in their sleep, or had not been strong enough to 
 withstand the monster. The Skioldungs' people were brave and 
 fearless, so twelve other heroes immediately offered their services. 
 Eleven of them laid themselves down to sleep in their armour, 
 while the twelfth, a minstrel, kept watch. 
 
 At midnight the giant came, smacking his great lips, and slowly 
 dragging his heavy body along. The minstrel saw and heard all 
 that took place; but he could neither speak nor move; he was,
 
 BEO WULF. 
 
 349 
 
 as it were, paralysed with fear, and at last sank back senseless. 
 Next morning, when with infinite trouble they restored him to 
 consciousness, he either could not, or would not, tell what he had 
 seen. He picked up his arms and his harp, pointed to the 
 stains on the floor, and strode down to the strand without a word 
 or sign of farewell to any one. A vessel was on the point of 
 sailing for Gothland, so he went on board, and had soon left the 
 ill-fated shores of Jutland behind. 
 
 II. BEOWULF, THE BOLD DIVER. 
 
 Hygelak, a brave and heroic man, ruled over Gothland at this 
 time. He was surrounded by a band of famous warriors, chief 
 among whom was his nephew Beowulf (bee-hunter, i.e., wood- 
 pecker), son of Ektheov. When the harper arrived in Gothland, he 
 found that the Swedes had invaded the country, and a great battle 
 was about to take place. A few days later the battle was fought, 
 and would have gone badly with the Goths had it not been for 
 the almost superhuman prowess displayed by Beowulf, who, in spite 
 of repeated disaster, always returned to the charge. His coolness 
 and courage kept up the spirits of his men, and at last the Swedes 
 had to return to their own land, mourning the loss of their king, 
 and of many a valiant hero. 
 
 During the feast that was given in honour of this great victory, 
 the stranger minstrel sang to the assembled warriors of the great 
 deeds of past and present times. He sang of Siegmund (Siegfried) 
 the brave Wolsung, and of all his adventures with giants and 
 dragons. Then, striking yet louder chords upon his harp, he 
 sang of Becwulf s victory, and called upon him to do yet greater 
 things, to seek out and slay the horrible fiend of the fen, Grendel, 
 who nightly crept into the Skioldungs' hall, and fed on the blood 
 of heroes. 
 
 Beowulf promised to go and try to slay the monster that had
 
 350 THE HEGEL1NG LEGEND. 
 
 done such incredible mischief. Now one of the great lords, Breka 
 by name, was envious of Beowulf s fame, and proposed that they 
 two should on the morrow go down to the sea, and fight the 
 monsters of the deep. They would then see which of them was 
 the better man ; and the one that reached the shore first after the 
 battle was over should receive the prize of victory. It was agreed 
 that this trial of strength should take place on the morrow, and 
 King Hygelak promised to give the gold chain he wore round his 
 neck to whichever was the victor. 
 
 Next morning the sun rose red in the east, the stormy sea 
 moaned, groaned, and dashed upon the shore, as though demanding 
 a human sacrifice. The two bold swimmers stood on the strand, 
 arrayed in their shirts of mail, their swords in their hands. When 
 the signal was given, they flung themselves into the raging sea, 
 and were soon lost to sight. They kept close together, that they 
 might come to each other's help if hard pressed by the monsters 
 of the deep, but were at length parted by waves which bore 
 them in different directions. Breka soon after found himself in 
 calm water, where he swam about until it was time to return. 
 Beowulf, on the contrary, was carried to a place where the waves 
 beat fiercely against great cliffs that towered above the water, a 
 place that swarmed with polypi, sea-dragons, and horrible nixies, 
 all lying in wait for their prey. Gigantic arms were stretched out 
 to grasp him, but he cut them down with his sword. Monsters 
 of every sort tried to clutch and stifle him, but he stabbed them 
 through their scales. A nixie clasped him in his arms, and would 
 have dragged him down to his cave, but he stabbed the monster 
 to the heart, and drew him to the surface of the water. After a 
 long struggle he again reached the open sea, and then strove with 
 all his might to get home before the sun should quite have set. 
 The storm was over, so that there was the less danger. Breka 
 was the first of the bold swimmers to reach the shore. He turned
 
 BEOWULF. 351 
 
 with a triumphant smile to greet Beowulf, but what was his 
 astonishment, and that of all present, when the hero dragged the 
 monstrous form of the nixie on the sands, and stretched it out 
 before them. The princes crowded round the hideous creature, 
 and gazed at his enormous limbs in speechless amazement. 
 
 " Here is the gold chain," said the king to Breka. " You have 
 won it by hard labour ; but my bold nephew has done even more 
 than you, in that he has conquered and slain one of the monsters 
 of the deep. I shall therefore give him my good sword Nag- 
 ling with the golden hilt, and the Runic letters engraved in gold, 
 that are sure to bring good fortune to the possessor." 
 
 Beowulf was held in high honour by the Goths ; but he could 
 not sit still, satisfied with what he had already done. He longed 
 to free the royal palace of the Skioldungs from the monster 
 Grendel, so he presently took ship for King Hrodgar's castle, 
 accompanied by the minstrel, and fifteen noble and courageous 
 Goths. 
 
 On their ship touching the strand below the fortress, the watch- 
 man asked them who they were, and what brought them to King 
 Hrodgar's land. When he learnt their names and business, he 
 was pleased, and sent them on to the king. Hrodgar also re- 
 ceived them with joy and gratitude. The minstrel tuned his 
 harp and sang of Beowulf's heroic deeds, and prophesied that he 
 would conquer and slay the monster of the morass. This praise 
 made Hunford, one of the courtiers, angry and jealous. He said 
 it was Breka, not Beowulf, that had won the golden chain ; that 
 the Gothic hero was undertaking an enterprise that would very 
 likely lead him to his death ; and he advised him to think twice 
 before attacking Grendel. Upon this, Beowulf exclaimed indig- 
 nantly that he had won a good sword instead of the golden chain, 
 and that it was sharp enough both to pierce the hide of the monster 
 and to cut out a slanderous tongue. Hrodgar bade the courtier
 
 35 2 THE HEGELING LEGEND. 
 
 be silent, and promised the Goth that if he were victorious, he 
 would give him rich presents, and would enter into a firm alli- 
 ance with his people. 
 
 At night-fall Hrodgar and his warriors withdrew, and serving- 
 men came into the hall to make up beds for the strangers. 
 Beowulf felt so confident of victory, that he laid aside his helmet 
 and shirt of mail, and then gave his sword to the groom in 
 attendance. 
 
 " I intend to master Grendel with my fists," he said ; " he is 
 unarmed, and I will meet him in like fashion." 
 
 Midnight came, and the fiend of the fen rose out of his hiding- 
 place. He expected a feast that night, and, wrapping himself in 
 a veil of mist, made his way to the palace. He entered the 
 banqueting-hall, and, at sight of the Goths, a grin of satisfaction 
 spread over his countenance, displaying his great teeth, which 
 resembled boar's tusks in size and shape. At the same time he 
 stretched out his hairy hands, which were furnished with claws 
 like those of an eagle. 
 
 The warriors were all sunk in a sleep so profound as to seem 
 like enchantment. Beowulf alone remained awake, and that only 
 by a mighty effort. He watched the monster through his half- 
 closed eyes, and saw him stand gloating over his intended victims, 
 uncertain with whom to commence. At last he seemed to have 
 made up his mind, for he hurled himself upon one of the sleepers, 
 whom he rapidly slew, drinking his blood with evident eagerness 
 and enjoyment. He turned next to Beowulf. But the hero 
 seized his outstretched arm in such a firm grip that he bellowed 
 with pain. And now began a terrible struggle between the man 
 and the demon. The hall trembled to its foundation, and threa- 
 tened every instant to fall in ruins. The sleepers awoke. They 
 drew their swords and fell upon the monster ; but their weapons 
 glanced harmlessly off his scaly hide, and they were fain to take
 
 BEOWULF. 
 
 refuge in out-of-the-way corners, that they might not be trampled 
 under foot by the wrestlers. At length Grendel had to acknow- 
 ledge Beowulf's mastery, and now only strove to escape. With 
 a mighty effort he succeeded in freeing himself from the hero's 
 grasp, but at the price of one of his arms, which, torn out at the 
 socket, remained in his antagonist's hands. Then, with a howl of 
 rage and pain, the demon fled back to his morass, leaving a trail 
 of blood to mark the path by which he had gone. 
 
 The Gothic hero stood in the middle of the vast hall, holding 
 his trophy in his right hand. The rays of the rising sun streamed 
 in at the window and lighted up his head as with a glory. His 
 companions crowded round him and greeted him with awe and 
 reverence. Then he fastened the trophy of his victory over the 
 door of the hall, and, having done this, he returned thanks to 
 All-father for having given him strength to withstand the mon- 
 ster. The warriors knelt round him and joined him in his praise 
 and thanksgiving. 
 
 When the Goths rose from their knees, they saw the king and 
 his courtiers assembled in the hall, gazing in astonishment, now 
 at them, and now at the monster's arm over the doorway. They 
 told Hrodgar all that had happened during the night. 
 
 The king was at first too much amazed to speak, but recovering 
 himself, he desired his nephew, Hrodulf, to bring the gifts he had 
 prepared to reward the victor. The warrior soon returned with 
 some servants bearing the presents, which Hrodgar gave to 
 Beowulf with many words of gratitude for the service he had done 
 him and the country. He then prayed the Goth to stand his 
 friend and his son's friend as long as they all should live. 
 
 After these things the king ordered a great feast to be prepared 
 in honour of the last night's work. While this was being done, 
 Hunford came forward and said : 
 
 " Noble Beowulf, I wronged you yesterday evening by my scorn- 
 
 z
 
 354 THE HEGELING LEGEND. 
 
 ful speech, which I never would have made had I known what you 
 were. Will you accept my sword Hrunting? it was made by 
 dwarfs, and the blade was hardened in dragon's blood, and, in 
 taking it, will you grant me your forgiveness and friendship?" 
 
 The two heroes shook hands in token of their reconciliation, 
 and went together to the feast. 
 
 When the feast was over, and the warriors sat over their wine- 
 cups, the minstrel sang of Beowulf's victory over Grendel, and of* 
 the alliance which had that day been concluded between the Goths 
 and the Skioldungs. When the song was finished, Queen Walch- 
 theov filled the goblets of all present To Beowulf she presented 
 a golden cup, telling him to^keep it in remembrance of her, to- 
 gether with a ring and a necklace that she put in his hand, saying 
 they were the same that Hama (Heime) in the olden time stole 
 from the Brosing (Harlung ?) treasure. 
 
 *' Wear them," she added, " for our sakes, but also for your own, 
 that you may come whole and victorious out of all the battles you 
 will have to fight during a long life." 
 
 Beowulf thanked the queen in seemly fashion, and then the 
 Lady Walchtheov retired. 
 
 While the king and his men, and Beowulf and his friends, 
 retired to the royal apartments, beds were spread in the hall for 
 many warriors, who, no longer fearing a one-armed Grendcl, 
 had now flocked to the palace and filled it to overflowing. 
 
 The night, however, was not to pass as quietly as was hoped. 
 
 III. THE SHE-WOLF OF THE SEA. 
 
 At midnight a great column of water rose in the midst of the 
 sea, and out of it came a gigantic woman, whose face was as grey 
 as her garments. Her eyes shone like coals of fire, her bristly 
 hair stood up on end. and her long bony arms were stretched out 
 as though in search for prey. It was Grendel's mother, who had
 
 BEO WULF. 355 
 
 come to avenge her son. She came up out of the sea, crossed the 
 morass, and entered the great hall ; there she slew one warrior 
 after another, in. spite of their resistance, and slaked her thirst 
 with their warm blood. 
 
 Deep was the sorrow of both king and people next day when 
 they heard of the new misery that had come upon the land. 
 Then Beowulf said that the cause of all this wretchedness was 
 Grendel's mother, and that she would never cease to persecute 
 the Skioldungs as long as she lived. The only thing to be done 
 was to seek her out in her own place, and there to slay her. This 
 he was prepared to do. He begged Hrodgar to send the trea- 
 sures that he and the queen had given him to his uncle Hygelak, 
 king of Gothland, should he fall in his struggle with the giantess. 
 
 The whole party then went down to the shore, and Beowulf, 
 wading into the sea, sought to find the road leading to the mon- 
 ster's dwelling. Finding that it was a longer way than he had 
 imagined, he came back to the shore and took leave of his friends, 
 who one and all entreated him to give up the enterprise ; but in 
 vain. 
 
 " Wait for me two days and nights," he said, " and if I do not 
 then return, you may know that I have been conquered by the 
 mer-woman ; but that is a matter that is in the hands of the gods 
 alone in whom I trust." 
 
 Having thus spoken, the hero tore himself away from his weep- 
 ing friends, and plunged into the raging sea with all his armour 
 on, and with Hunford's good sword at his side. 
 
 He swam a long way. At last he saw a light deep down in 
 the water. " Her dwelling must be here," he thought ; " may 
 the gods have me in their keeping ! " He dived down, down, 
 down to the bottom of the sea. Many a monster of strange 
 shape snapped at him as he shot past, but his coat of mail was 
 proof against their teeth. Suddenly he felt himself caught as
 
 356 THE HEGELING LEGEND. 
 
 though with hooks, and dragged along so swiftly that he could 
 scarcely breathe. In another moment he found himself in the 
 crystal hall of a submarine palace, and face to face with the 
 antagonist he had sought. 
 
 Then began a terrible struggle. Beowulf and the giantess 
 wrestled together for life and death. The walls of the palace 
 shook so that they threatened to fall. The two wrestlers fell to 
 the ground, Beowulf the undermost. The mer-woman pulled out 
 a sharp knife to cut his throat, but Wieland's armour was too well 
 made to give way, and Beowulf struggled to his feet again. The 
 giantess then drew a monstrous sword, so heavy that few mortal 
 men could have wielded it ; but, before she could use it, Beowulf 
 made an unexpected spring upon her, and wrenched the sword 
 out of her hand. He clutched it firmly in both hands, and, 
 swinging it with all his strength, cut off the woman's head. He 
 felt so exhausted with his labours that he rested awhile, leaning 
 on his sword. After a few minutes he looked about him, and 
 saw Grendel lying dead on a couch of sea-weed. He cut off his 
 head, meaning to take it with him as a sign of victory ; but no 
 sooner had he done so than the blood began to flow from the 
 monster's body in a great gurgling stream, then it mixed with 
 that of his mother, and flowed out of the entrance door into the 
 sea. The blade of the giantess' sword melted in it, and vanished 
 as completely as ice in the rays of the sun. The golden hilt of 
 the sword and Grendel's head were the only booty that Beowulf 
 brought with him out of the depths of the sea. 
 
 His friends were collected on the shore, their hearts filled with 
 a deadly anxiety, for they had seen the sea reddened with blood, 
 and knew not whose it was. So when the hero appeared, they 
 received him with acclamation. 
 
 Hrodgar and his people could find no words that would fitly 
 express their gratitude to the hero who had saved the land from
 
 BEOWULF. 357 
 
 two such foes as Grendel and his mother ; and when Beowulf and 
 his warriors set out on their journey home, they were laden with 
 blessings and gifts of all kinds. 
 
 Hygelak received his nephew with great delight, and listened to 
 the tale of his adventures in speechless amazement and ecstasy. 
 
 IV. BEOWULF is MADE KING. 
 
 Many years passed away in peace and quiet. At last the 
 Frisians made a viking raid on Gothland, burning defenceless 
 granges and cottages. Before King Hygelak could reach the 
 place of their depredation, and offer them battle, they had taken 
 to their ships again, and were far away. The king determined 
 to make a descent upon Friesland and punish the marauders ; he 
 would not listen to Beowulf when he advised him to delay till 
 better preparations could be made for the onslaught. 
 
 The Goths landed in Friesland without opposition, and, 
 marching into the country, revenged themselves by burning many 
 a farmstead, and taking many a castle and township. Now 
 the Frisians were a free and warlike people, whose heroes had 
 played an honourable part in the great Bravalla-fight ; the time 
 had come for them to preserve their homes and liberty, and they 
 did not shun to make ready for battle. A murderous engagement 
 took place between them and their Gothic invaders, in which the 
 latter were defeated, and obliged to fly to their ships, terror- 
 stricken by the loss of their king. Beowulf and the noblest of 
 the warriors alone stood their ground, and, although severely 
 wounded, did not join in the retreat until they had rescued and 
 carried off Hygelak's body. Then the conquered army set sail 
 for Gothland. 
 
 Queen Hygd was at first so overwhelmed with sorrow for the 
 loss of her husband that she could give no thought to matters of 
 state; but after a time she roused herself from her grief, and
 
 358 THE HEGELING LEGEND. 
 
 began to consider what was best for the nation. It was well that 
 she did so, for while she was still wrapped up in her sorrow, the 
 barons had been quarrelling among themselves, and creating 
 much disturbance. The royal widow therefore called a meeting 
 of the notables, and standing up before the assembly, spoke of the 
 anarchy into which the country was falling, and said that as her 
 son Hardred was too young to govern the kingdom, and preserve 
 it from civil or foreign war, she strongly advised that Beowulf 
 should be made king. The notables all cheered, and shouted that 
 Beowulf should be their king; but the hero came forward and 
 said : 
 
 " And do you really think, ye men of Gothland, that I would 
 rob the child of my uncle and friend of his rights and honours ? 
 May the gods, the avengers of all evil, preserve me from such a 
 crime ! Here," he cried, lifting young Hardred on his shield, 
 and holding him aloft, " here is our king. I will be his faithful 
 guardian, and will act in his name till he is old enough and wise 
 enough to take the reins of government into his own hands." 
 
 Nobody ventured to remonstrate with Beowulf ; indeed, they all 
 knew that remonstrance would be in vain. And so the matter 
 was settled. 
 
 Years passed on, and Beowulf kept his word. He ruled the 
 kingdom with a strong hand, and with absolute justice ; and with 
 the help of Queen Hygd educated the young king with so much 
 wisdom, that when the sovereign power was placed in his hands, 
 there was every hope that he would use it for his people's good. 
 But Hardred was not long to rule over the Goths. Like his 
 former guardian and teacher Beowulf, the king was of a frank and 
 honest nature, and trustful of all who had not shown themselves 
 his enemies. So when Eanmund and Eadgils, the sons of Ohtere, 
 king of Swithiod, came to him as fugitives, he received them with 
 all kindness. He often tried to make them see that they had
 
 BEOWULF. 359 
 
 been wrong in rebelling against their father, and offered to 
 arrange matters with him on their behalf. One day, when he 
 was speaking to them very earnestly on this subject, Eanmund, a 
 passionate, hot-tempered man, told him that he was too young 
 to advise a tried warrior like him. Hardred sharply told him to 
 remember to whom he was speaking ; and Eanmund, completely 
 losing the little self-control he ever had, drew his sword and 
 stabbed his royal host to the heart. Young Wichstan (Weohstan) 
 at once avenged the king's murder by slaying Eanmund ; but 
 Eadgils fled back to Swithiod, and soon after succeeded his father 
 on the throne. 
 
 The Gothic Allthing, the assembly of all the free men of the 
 nation, was called together as soon as Hardred's murder was 
 made known, and by a unanimous vote Beowulf was elected king 
 in his cousin's stead. He accepted the office, and swore to 
 rule his people justly. 
 
 V. THE FIGHT WITH THE DRAGON. 
 
 When Hardred's death was noised abroad, several of the neigh- 
 bouring peoples made raids upon Gothland, but Beowulf kept so 
 strict a watch on the borders that the enemy was beaten back at 
 all points. Scarcely was the country freed from the attacks of 
 these sea-wolves, when Eadgils, king of Swithiod, came at the 
 head of a large army to avenge his brother's death. The Goths 
 and Swedes met, and fought a murderous battle, in which many 
 men were slain, and among them King Eadgils. After the death 
 of their king, the Swedes retired to their ships, and sailed back to 
 their own land. The consequence of this victory was a lasting 
 peace. No vikings dared attack the well-defended shores of 
 Gothland, and but few quarrels arose among the nobles to disturb 
 the internal peace of the realm. Beowulf ruled the land with
 
 360 THE HEGELING LEGEND. 
 
 great justice and wisdom. No one entreating his help was ever 
 sent empty away, and no act of tyranny remained unpunished. 
 
 Forty years or more passed after this fashion. The hero had 
 grown an old man, and hoped that the national peace and happi- 
 ness would last as long as he lived. But he was to be rudely 
 awakened from this dream. An enemy attacked Gothland, against 
 whom all weapons and armies were useless. This was how it 
 happened. A dishonest slave, who feared discovery and punish- 
 ment at his master's hands, fled from home, and took refuge in a 
 wild, rocky place. When he got there, he looked about for some 
 cave in which he might take up his abode. Coming to one, he 
 entered, but found it already tenanted by an immense dragon, 
 which lay stretched on the ground asleep. Behind it, at the back 
 of the cave, were treasures of all sorts. The man looked greedily 
 at the shining mass of jewels and gold, and thought in his heart, 
 " If I had but a few of these treasures, I could buy my freedom, 
 and need no longer fear my master." This idea made him bold. 
 He slipped softly past the monster, and stole a golden pot, the 
 knob on whose lid was formed of a shining carbuncle. He 
 escaped safely, and going back to his master, bought his freedom. 
 Neither of the men had the slightest notion of the harm this deed 
 would bring down upon the land. 
 
 The dragon, which had watched over its hoard for hundreds of 
 years, and knew each costly thing by heart, saw at once that it had 
 been robbed. At nightfall it crept out of its hole to look for 
 traces of the thief. Finding none, it lifted up its voice and howled 
 so loud, that the earth shook, at the same time flames issued from 
 its mouth and burnt up granges and homesteads far and wide. 
 The men, who sought to put out the fire, fell victims to its fury, 
 or else were dragged into the monster's cave, where they perished 
 miserably. This happened night after night ; the devastation had 
 no end. Many brave warriors went out against the dragon, and
 
 BEOWULF. 361 
 
 tried to kill it, but none of them could withstand the fiery blasts 
 with which the creature defended itself. 
 
 The old king heard the story of these events with infinite 
 sorrow. He determined himself to attack the monster, and when 
 his friends remonstrated with him on his rashness, he replied that 
 it was his duty to defend his people from all their enemies, and 
 that the gods would help him. He further announced that he 
 would have fought the dragon unarmed, as he had done the mon- 
 ster Grendel, the son of the sea-witch, but that he feared he could 
 not make his way through the flames without such protection. 
 He therefore had a shield made three times as thick as usual, and 
 so large that it covered him completely. This done, he chose 
 eleven of his bravest warriors to be his comrades in this adventure, 
 among them Wichstan, the man who avenged King Hardred's 
 death. 
 
 Beowulf and his companions set out on their journey, and in 
 due course arrived at the dragon's cave, out of which there flowed 
 a brook whose waters were made boiling hot by the monster's 
 fiery breath. 
 
 The king bade his friends wait a little way off, until they 
 saw whether he needed their help, and then advancing to the 
 mouth of the cave, he called the dragon to come forth. The 
 great beast came out at his call, and a terrible struggle ensued. 
 Both combatants were hidden from view in a dense cloud of 
 smoke and fire. The rocks trembled and shook at the bellowing 
 of the monster, which at the same time slashed out with its 
 tail, whose blows fell like a sledge-hammer both in sound and 
 regularity. For a moment the smoke and flames were blown 
 aside by a puff of wind, and Beowulfs comrades saw that the 
 dragon had just seized their king in its great jaws. They could 
 not bear the sight, and ten of them slipped aside and strove to 
 hide behind rocks and trees ; but the eleventh, brave Wichstan,
 
 362 THE HEGELTNG LEGEND. 
 
 hastened to help his master. His shield was burnt up in a 
 twinkling, and he was obliged to seek shelter behind the king. 
 Both heroes seemed lost. The dragon tore down Beowulf's iron 
 shield, and caught him a second time in its great jaws, crushing 
 him between its teeth with such force, that the iron rings of 
 his coat of mail cracked like so much crockery, though they 
 had been forged by Wieland himself. Then Wichstan seized his 
 opportunity, when the beast's head was raised, the better to 
 champ his prey, and plunged his sword into the fleshy part of 
 its throat under the lower jaw. Upon this the dragon dropped 
 the king, and encircled both its adversaries with its tail, but 
 Beowulf at the same moment made a lunge at its open mouth, 
 driving his weapon so deep that the point came out at the 
 dragon's throat After that they soon dispatched the monster, 
 and then threw themselves on a ledge of rock, panting and 
 exhausted. 
 
 When they had recovered a little, the heroes loosened their 
 armour, and Wichstan saw that blood was oozing slowly from 
 under the king's gorget. He wanted to bind up the slight 
 wound ; but Beowulf forbade him, saying that it would be 
 useless, as the hurt had been given by the dragon's tooth, and 
 the poison was already in his veins. 
 
 " I must die," he added, " but I go to my forefathers without 
 sadness, though I am the last of my race, for my wife has 
 given me no son and heir. I can look back on my past life 
 with pleasure, for I have wronged no man, but have shown 
 justice to all." 
 
 lie then asked Wichstan -to fetch him a drink of water, and 
 afterwards to bring him the treasure out of the dragon's cave, 
 that he might see, with his own eyes, the last gift he should 
 ever make to his people. 
 
 His commands were obeyed, and a few minutes later he had
 
 BEOWULF. 
 
 363 
 
 passed away quietly and peacefully. Wichstan gazed at him in 
 silent grief. Beowulf had been his dearest friend, and he felt 
 that, with his death, his last tie to life was loosed. Meanwhile 
 the ten warriors had come out of their hiding-places, when they 
 found that all danger was over. On seeing what had chanced, 
 they raised their voices in mourning ; but Wichstan bade them 
 
 BEOWULF DYJNG. 
 
 hold their peace, or if they must weep, at least to weep for 
 their own cowardice, and not for the hero who had died at his 
 post. He then advised them to make the best of their way to 
 other lands, as he could not answer for their lives when the 
 Goths became aware of the way in which they had deserted their 
 king in his hour of need. 
 
 With bowed heads and shame-stricken faces the men turned
 
 364 
 
 THE HECKLING LEGEND, 
 
 away. They departed out of Gothland, and sought to hide their 
 heads in countries where their names were unknown. 
 
 The body of Beowulf was borne to its funeral pile on the 
 height called Hronesnas, and there burnt amid the tears and 
 sorrow of a nation. When the funeral rites had all been per- 
 formed, the great treasure was taken back to the dragon's cave. 
 For the Goths would have none of the gold their beloved king 
 had won for them in his death. So it still lies hidden in the 
 heart of the earth as in the olden time when the dragon 
 guarded it from mortal ken. If it is useless to men, it is at all 
 events not hurtful.
 
 PART THIRD. 
 I. CAROLINGIAN LEGENDS. 
 II. KING ARTHUR AND THE HOLY GRAIL. 
 III. TANNHAUSER. ,
 
 IMALAUIS FETCHES THE HORSE BAYARD 
 BACK FROM HELL. 
 
 miff. 
 
 CAROLINGIAN LEGENDS. 
 
 I. 
 THE CHILDREN OF HAYMON. 
 
 HAYMON. 
 
 A F E and victorious, Karl the 
 Great (Charlemagne), king of 
 the Franks, had returned from Hungary. He had conquered 
 the wild Avars, destroyed their strongholds, and come back to 
 Parts with much booty. 
 
 High festival was being held in the royal palace, for the king 
 was busied dividing the newly conquered country into counties 
 and baronies amongst those of his warriors whom he thought 
 best fitted for such responsible charge. While thus employed, 
 
 167
 
 368 CAROLTNGTAN LEGENDS. 
 
 Lord Hug of Dordone came forward, and asked the king if 
 he had forgotten the faithful services rendered him by Count 
 Haymon of Dordone, that he had not mentioned his appoint- 
 ment to any of the new fiefs. Karl at once replied, that he had 
 not forgotten Haymon, but he considered that bold warrior had 
 already fiefs enough and to spare. Indeed, if he gave him 
 more, it would only make him think himself as powerful as his 
 master, and might even tempt him to throw off his allegiance 
 to the Prankish crown. 
 
 " He is a faithful vassal, sire," answered Hug, " as true as a 
 sword to its sheath ; but if he is given a lower position than 
 meaner men, he may in good truth forget his oath of allegiance, 
 and fight for his rights. Did he do so, he would not lack aid 
 from many a trusty comrade." 
 
 As he spoke, the hero touched his sword significantly. The 
 king's wrath was so roused by the boldness of this speech, that 
 he drew his sword, and, next moment, the good lord's head was 
 severed from his body at one blow. 
 
 The courtiers drew back in speechless horror, and Haymon, 
 who came in at that instant, asked one of the bystanders what had 
 happened. When he heard the reason of the king's murderous 
 deed, he turned sharp round upon his heel, and went out without 
 further word or greeting. 
 
 As soon as he reached his' own castle, he gathered his friends 
 about him, and declared war against his liege lord. No great 
 battle was fought ; but continual conflict raged between the con- 
 tending parties, the country was laid waste, and the peasantry 
 suffered terribly. Haymon was able to move about from place to 
 place with such incredible swiftness that people began to say he 
 rode a magic horse, gifted with the speed of lightning, and the 
 wit of man. The war lasted for years, till at last King Karl 
 came with a large army, and besieged the castle of the rebel count.
 
 THE CHILDREN OF HAYMON. 369 
 
 One morning, when matters were in this position, Haymon went 
 to the stables as usual with a feed of oats for his favourite horse ; 
 but the stall was empty, the good steed Bayard was gone. Hay- 
 mon was in despair. He was just considering whether it was 
 worth while carrying on such a hopeless war, when his cousin 
 Malagis, a small, insignificant-looking man with a long beard, 
 came to him, and told him that he knew for certain that the 
 devil had carried off the horse, and had hidden it in Mount 
 Vulcanus, which is near the mouth of hell. He further promised 
 to go and fetch it, in spite of all difficulties. Then, without wait- 
 ing for a word of thanks or warning, the little man turned, and 
 left the count. 
 
 When he got outside the castle gate, Malagis pulled a small bag 
 of powdered hellebore from his pocket. He sprinkled a good deal 
 of it in the air, and the wind carried it over the besieger's camp. 
 A general fit of sneezing suddenly infected the whole army. 
 While the men-at-arms were thus sneezing, and calling out, " God 
 bless you ! " to each other, Malagis quietly walked through their 
 lines, and pursued his journey to Mount Vulcanus. 
 
 He reached the foot of the great mountain in safety, and saw 
 smoke and flames issuing from its top. He at once went in 
 search of the ruler of the world of fire, greeted him courteously, 
 and introduced himself as a great necromancer, who had come to 
 offer his valuable services to his Satanic majesty. The devil 
 answered sarcastically, that he was accustomed to hear the 
 followers of the black art vaunt their powers and wisdom, but as 
 he was curious to see what the stranger could really do, he would 
 give him a chance of showing off. 
 
 You must know, fellow," he continued, "that I have always 
 hitherto ridden on the storm-wind, but I find that too great an 
 exertion now. I am grown too old for that sort of thing, so I 
 looked out for a good horse, and managed to find one fleet enough 
 
 A A
 
 370 CAROLINGIAN LEGENDS. 
 
 to satisfy me. I therefore took possession of it, and brought it 
 here. I thought that I should now be able to ride through the 
 world of men more at my ease than before ; but," and here he 
 sighed deeply, and blue flames issued from his month as he did so, 
 "if I were not the devil myself, I should say that that horse was 
 an incarnation of Satan, he will not even let me mount him. I 
 have therefore put him into the volcano, hoping to tame him in 
 that manner. I have kept awake for months to look after this 
 work myself, but hitherto without effect. Will you take my place 
 while I enjoy a little nap ? " 
 
 " Well spoken, great king," said Malagis, " but should I not be 
 able to watch the effect on the horse better if I were close to 
 it ? Let me therefore beg you to withdraw the fire and smoke for 
 a few minutes, that I may go down into the heart of the moun- 
 tain, and enter upon my duty. Perhaps, also, the horse may be 
 more easily induced to obey, if he gets a breath of fresh air." 
 
 Satan consented to do as he was asked. He climbed to the top 
 of the mountain, accompanied by Malagis, and ordered the spirits 
 of the nether-world to hold back the flames. As soon as the 
 intense heat had cooled down, the necromancer descended into 
 the abyss, and took up his position near the horse. Then, as if by 
 accident, he threw what looked like a handful of ashes up in the 
 air. But it was really a sleeping-powder. In another moment 
 the prince of hell was sound asleep, and snoring so loud that the 
 mountain trembled at the sound, and ignorant men thought there 
 was an earthquake. Malagis now approached the horse, which 
 snapped and kicked at him viciously. But no sooner had he 
 whispered the word, " Bayard," than the creature pricked up its 
 cars, and when he added, " your master, Haymon, has need of 
 you," it became gentle as a lamb, and allowed him to lead it to 
 the upper-world. 
 
 " To Haymon ! " cried Malagis, springing on its back ; and the
 
 THE CHILDREN OF HAYMON. 3-1 
 
 horse, neighing for joy, set off with the speed of the wind over 
 hill and dale, heath and morass. 
 
 At the sound of the whinny, the prince of darkness awoke out 
 of his sleep, and at once understood what had happened. With- 
 out loss of time, he flung himself astride of a storm-cloud, and 
 hurled a thunderbolt after the fugitives. But Malagis quietly 
 said, "Abracadabra," at the same time holding up his crucifix. 
 The thunderbolt fell harmless to the ground ; but Lucifer was so 
 much startled by the sight of the cross that he tumbled off his 
 cloud, and, falling to the earth, broke his leg ; and from that day 
 forward he has had a limp in his gait. 
 
 Meanwhile Count Haymon was in sore distress. He was 
 hunted like a wild beast from place to place. His men were all 
 dead, or else had deserted him. He was alone and desolate. 
 One day, as he rode through a wood on a wretched broken-down 
 hack, listening bitterly to the bay of the blood-hounds, and the 
 hollo of the hunters who pursued him, he saw a rider gallop into 
 the clearing in front, and exclaimed in joy : 
 
 " Malagis, cousin Malagis, and Bayard, faithful Bayard ! My 
 misery is at an end now." 
 
 Scarcely had he uttered these words when his pursuers were 
 upon him. He sprang on Bayard's back, swung his sword, and 
 faced his foes. He and his horse fought together, and but few of 
 his antagonists lived to tell the tale of that day's work. 
 
 Haymon's evil fortune now changed to good. Friends came to 
 his aid, and many castles and strongholds fell into his hands. 
 The paladins of the great king avoided giving him battle, and 
 the war seemed as if it might go on for ever. The proud king 
 longed for peace, and at last sent ambassadors to his disobedient 
 vassal, offering to restore all his fiefs, and to pay him four times 
 the weight in gold of the murdered Hug of Dordone. Count 
 Roland was sent at the head of the embassy. Haymon received
 
 372 CAROLINGIAN LEGENDS. 
 
 the messengers with all honour, especially his old friend Roland ; 
 but when he heard the terms offered by Karl, he said that the 
 king's expiation for the murder must be six times the weight of 
 his victim, and that he must further give his sister Aya to Hay- 
 mon in marriage. These terms were at first rejected by the king, 
 but afterwards he consented, partly because the country needed 
 peace, and partly, it was said, because the fair princess Aya used 
 her influence with her brother to that end. 
 
 So peace was at length concluded. Count Haymon was re- 
 stored to his former rank and dignity, and was married to the 
 princess. After the wedding, the newly married couple retired to 
 their castle of Pierlepont, where they lived for some time in love 
 and unity. But Haymon's was too active a disposition to be con- 
 tent with an idle life for long. He thirsted for glory, and to do 
 great deeds. So he crossed over the Pyrenees into Spain, a 
 country where the Christians and heathen Moors kept up a con- 
 stant internecine war. For the first few years Count Haymon 
 used to return home from time to time to see his wife and children, 
 but when the fortune of war led him further south, he stayed away 
 altogether, and seemed to have forgotten his beautiful home, and 
 all that it contained. 
 
 Countess Aya mourned him as dead, and expended all her love 
 on her four sons, whom she educated with the greatest care, and 
 who rewarded her for her pains by growing up into wise and 
 stately men. Reinold, the youngest, and his father's image, was 
 taller and stronger than his brothers, and a better swordsman than 
 any one about Pierlepont. He had inherited much of his father's 
 quick temper; but to his mother he was always gentle and 
 bidable.
 
 THE CHILDREN OF HAYMON. 373 
 
 The four lads, Richard, Adelhart, Wichart, and Reinold had 
 already shown their prowess in the field, when a messenger came 
 to Pierlepont to say that Count Haymon was lying sick at an inn 
 at the foot of the Pyrenean hills, and near a place where hot 
 mineral springs were to be found. He wanted his wife to come 
 and nurse him. Aya prepared to obey her husband without a 
 moment's delay, and set out accompanied by her sons. 
 
 On her arrival at the inn, she hastened to embrace her husband, 
 and present her sons to him. The three elder lads embraced 
 their sick father tenderly, but Reinold hung back. 
 
 " Who is this broken-down old man ? " he cried. " It cannot 
 be my father, for he is a great hero, and that man does not look 
 much of a warrior. I wonder if he will try a bout with me." 
 
 " Boy," said Haymon, standing up straight, " do you not know 
 me for your father ? Look at this ring which your mother gave 
 me years ago, and at these scars which I gained in battle." 
 
 " And," continued the countess, " does not my love for him bear 
 witness that he is your father ? " 
 
 " Yes, mother," cried Reinold, " I recognise him now ; " and, so 
 saying, he clasped his father in his arms, and squeezed nearly all 
 the breath out of his body. 
 
 " Ah, this one is my son, and no mistake," said Haymon. " He 
 was cut out of the same quarry." 
 
 Aya and her sons were anxious to hear all that the count had 
 done and seen since they had met last, so Haymon told them all 
 that had befallen him, and ended by saying that he had brought 
 home great wealth. This wealth he intended his three elder 
 sons to divide equally amongst them, whilst his youngest son was 
 to have his good sword Flammberg and the horse Bayard, if he 
 could manage to ride it. 
 
 Reinold did not in the least doubt his powers of riding any- 
 thing, and begged his father, mother, and brothers to come and
 
 374 CAROLING1AN LEGENDS. 
 
 see him mount his new steed. They followed the lad into the 
 stable. Reinold went straight up to Bayard, and seizing the halter 
 in one hand, was about to mount, when the horse caught his coat 
 between its teeth, and threw him on the ground. The bold 
 warrior, ashamed of his fall, sprang to his feet, and next moment 
 was seated in the saddle. There was a fierce struggle for mastery, 
 which ended in the victory of Reinold. After a wild and danger- 
 ous ride, when Bayard once more stood in its stall, Haymon 
 went up to the noble animal, and said : 
 
 " Bayard, this is my son, your future master." 
 
 The horse seemed to understand, for it laid its head gently 
 against Reinold's breast, as though to acknowledge his mastery. 
 
 Count Haymon was soon strong enough to return to Pierlepont 
 with his family. Shortly after his arrival there, he heard that the 
 king, who had lately been crowned emperor at Rome, intended 
 to confer the honour of knighthood on his son and heir, Prince 
 Ludwig, and on several squires of noble birth. Haymon and his 
 sons at once determined to go to court on this occasion. 
 
 A great tournament was held before the emperor knighted the 
 young men, and each and all of the candidates showed himself 
 worthy of the honour about to be bestowed on him ; more 
 especially Reinold, whose prowess brought down endless accla- 
 mations. After the ceremony of knighting the young nobles was 
 over, Ludwig was crowned king, and named his father's successor 
 in the empire. The young king's first act was to distribute fiefs 
 to the new-made knights, save and except to the brothers alone ; 
 these he passed over entirely. He did not even invite them to 
 the feast, and to all appearance the day of general rejoicing was 
 to be a fast day for them. Reinold thought it too bad, so he 
 walked into the royal kitchen and helped himself to all he needed 
 for himself and his brothers. 
 
 The reason of this extraordinary conduct on Ludwig's part
 
 THE CHILDREN OF HAYMON. 375 
 
 was easy to guess. He was jealous of the superior strength and 
 prowess Reinold had displayed in the lists ; above all, he could 
 not forget the fall he had met with at his hands. He confided 
 his dislike of Reinold to his favourite, Ganelon, a fawning 
 sycophant, and told him that he wanted to rid himself and the 
 country of him whom he chose to regard as his enemy. Ganelon 
 at once had a plan to propose. He said that Ludwig, who was 
 famous for his skill in playing chess, should challenge Adelhart, 
 one of the brothers, to play a game with him, each player to stake 
 his head to the other. Reinold would be sufficiently punished, in 
 Ganelon's eyes, by the pain his brother's death would cause him. 
 Ludwig agreed to the plan with alacrity. Adelhart, on receiving 
 the challenge, declined to play on such terms, saying that if he 
 won, he could not raise his hand against the life of his future liege 
 lord ; but Ludwig would not listen to any excuse, saying he would 
 have him proclaimed a coward if Jae did not consent So the 
 young hero gave way, much against his will. 
 
 A few minutes later the two men were seated opposite each 
 other before a chess-board, while three of the courtiers, who had 
 been chosen umpires, stood beside the table and watched the 
 players. Five games were to be played. The chess-men on 
 the one side were inade of gold, those on the other of silver. 
 Ludwig, who played with the golden chess-men, had the first 
 move. The five stipulated games were played one after the other, 
 and in each of the five, Ludwig was check-mated. The umpires 
 were silent. The long swept the pieces together impatiently, and 
 when Adelhart said he had only played for the sake of his life 
 and honour, that the head of his king was sacred in his eyes, 
 Ludwig caught up the chess-board and flung it in his face with 
 such force that the blood flowed from his mouth and nose, and 
 stained his garments. 
 
 The hero instantly rose and withdrew. As he crossed the
 
 376 CAROLING1AN LEGENDS. 
 
 courtyard, his brother Reinold hastened to meet him, and asked 
 what was the matter. On learning what had taken place, the 
 younger brother was very angry. He gave orders that all should 
 be got ready for their departure, and sent a servant to tell his 
 father and brothers to come down to their horses. Then, turning 
 to Adelhart, he said he would fetch him the prize he had won. 
 Signing to his brother to follow him, he at once directed his 
 steps to the throne-room, where the emperor was seated with his 
 knights and nobles about him. Ludwig and the umpires were 
 there also. Reinold advanced to the throne, and told Karl the 
 whole story, asking the umpires if it were not so. Two of them 
 were afraid, and held their peace ; but the third boldly avowed the 
 truth. Reinold, upon this, drew his sword Flammberg, and with 
 one stroke severed Ludwig's head from his body. Almost before 
 the spectators could draw breath, the brothers had left the room. 
 On reaching the courtyard, they at once mounted their horses 
 and rode away, accompanied by Haymon and the rest of their 
 party. 
 
 They were pursued on the instant. The men-at-arms came up 
 with them outside the town gates, and a battle ensued. From the 
 first there seemed to be very little chance for Count Haymon and 
 his sons. They had but a few men-at-arms to support them, and 
 the enemy's numbers increased every minute. Their men were 
 at last all slain, and so were all their horses, except Bayard, 
 which bore bold Reinold here, there, and everywhere with equal 
 speed and safety. At length, seeing that further contest was 
 useless, Reinold called to his father and brothers to mount behind 
 him on Bayard. The three brothers lost no time in obeying him 
 but Haymon was so hemmed in by the press of people that 
 he could not move. Although bearing a fourfold burden, Bayard 
 galloped away as lightly and easily as if he had had nothing on 
 his back.
 
 377
 
 THE CHILDREN OF HAYMON. 379 
 
 Haymon meantime yielded himself prisoner to Bishop Turpin, 
 the bishop promising that his life should be spared. But the 
 emperor refused to be bound by Turpin's promise, and ordered 
 that Haymon should be publicly hung for the offence his son had 
 committed. The bishop's entreaties were vain. It was not until 
 Roland and the other paladins threatened to leave his service if 
 he persisted in ordering Haymon's death, that the emperor gave 
 way, and set his prisoner free, after making him swear to deliver 
 his sons into his hands on the first opportunity. With the prospect 
 of the gallows before his eyes, Haymon took the oath demanded 
 of him. 
 
 Meanwhile the brothers journeyed rapidly through the broad 
 lands of France. Nowhere could they find an abiding-place, for 
 they were outlaws, whose life was forfeited if they fell into the 
 emperor's hands. At length they came to Saforet, a Moorish 
 chieftain, with whom they made friends, and to whom they swore 
 fealty. They remained with him three years, serving him well ; 
 but when, at the expiration of that time, they asked for the pay 
 he had promised but never given, the Moor, who thought them 
 unable to defend their rights, refused to listen to the request. So 
 Reinold, growing impatient, cut off his head. It was certainly an 
 effectual way of ending the argument, but it necessitated imme- 
 diate flight on the part of the brothers. This time they turned 
 for protection to Iwo, prince of Tarasconia, the mightiest opponent 
 of Saforet. The prince received them with every mark of honour, 
 and with their help gained many victories over his enemies. But 
 when he heard of the imperial ban under which they lived, Iwo 
 called his council together, and asked what was to be done. Some 
 of his advisers wanted him to get rid of the brothers as quickly 
 as possible; while others said that it would be well to court the 
 emperor's favour by delivering the outlaws into his hand ; but the 
 greater number were of opinion that the best thing to do would
 
 380 CAROLINGIAN LEGENDS. 
 
 be to bind the heroes by some strong tie to the princely house. 
 This last piece of advice was the one followed by Iwo, who gave 
 Reinold his only daughter Clarissa to wife, and appointed him 
 and his brothers a residence by the sea. There a strong fortress 
 called Montalban was built, which became the chief stronghold of 
 the principality. On one occasion the emperor's forces besieged 
 it for a whole year, and then had to withdraw, baffled. 
 
 'Look," cried Richard, looking down from the battlements, 
 " the imperial eagle flutters away into the forest with a broken 
 wing. Up, Reinold, and after it, that we may send it home like a 
 plucked goose." 
 
 " I have something else to do," answered his brother thoughtfully. 
 " Seven years have passed over our heads since we saw our good 
 mother. The longing to see her again gnaws at my heart ; I 
 must go and visit her, were it to cost me my life." 
 
 His brothers agreed to go with him ; so they armed themselves 
 cap-a-pie, drew long grey pilgrims' dresses over their armour, and 
 set out for Castle Pierlepont. They got there safely, and were 
 received with the greatest joy by their mother, who could not do 
 enough to show them how happy their coming had made her. 
 
 The chamberlain who had taken them into the presence of the 
 Countess Aya, soon discovered who they were, and determined to 
 betray them. He went at once to his lord, Count Haymon, told 
 him who the supposed pilgrims were, and reminded him of his oath 
 to the emperor. Haymon was very angry, and felt inclined to slay 
 the chamberlain there and then, but refrained. After taking coun- 
 sel with himself, he made up his mind that the best thing he 
 could do would be to take his sons prisoner, and march them off 
 to the emperor ; giving them, however, an opportunity of slipping 
 away before they reached Paris. So he called his men-at-arms to 
 follow him, and went to his wife's apartments. Aya, seeing them 
 crossing the court, would have hidden her sons, but they refused to
 
 THE CHILDREN Of HAYMON. 381 
 
 hide, and, throwing off their pilgrims' robes, prepared to defend 
 their lives to the last. Reinold's great strength served him in good 
 stead. He fought so furiously that the men-at-arms fell back. 
 Haymon alone stood firm. Reinold swung his sword, but his 
 mother clung to him, entreating him to remember .that it was his 
 father who stood before him. Reinold at once put up his sword, 
 but disarmed his father, and took him prisoner. 
 
 "The man that would have delivered his own children up to 
 the executioner's axe shall go to his friend the emperor in a guise 
 that befits his knightly character," said Reinold. 
 
 The men-at-arms stood so much in awe of the young man's 
 prowess and strong arm, that they promised implicit obedience. 
 Reinold, therefore, sent one of them to fetch an ass. When it was 
 brought he placed the count upon it and bound him to the saddle. 
 Then calling a boy, he placed the reins in his hands, and bade him 
 lead the prisoner to Paris. The count, however, had not so far to 
 go, after all ; for, meeting some of the imperial troops on the way, 
 he was set at liberty, mounted on a horse, and taken back to 
 Pierlepont 
 
 The brothers were enjoying themselves in their old home, when 
 the emperor's troops arrived before the gates of the castle. Reinold 
 was alone with his mother when the order to surrender was given 
 by the invaders. The young man snatched up his sword, but his 
 mother silently pointed to the gates, which were already thrown 
 open. She then dressed him hastily in his pilgrim's robes, and led 
 him out of the castle by a secret door. Having done this, Aya 
 returned to seek, and, if it might be, save her other sons ; but 
 she found them prisoners and bound, and in the hands of their 
 enemies. She wept and wrung her hands, for she knew that she 
 was powerless to help them. 
 
 Meantime Reinold was hastening back to Montalban as quickly 
 as he could. He was determined to save his brothers, and knew
 
 382 CAROLINGIAN LEGENDS. 
 
 that delay would be fatal. Arrived at home, he went straight to the 
 stables, where Bayard whinnied with joy to see him. After eating 
 a few mouthfuls of food hastily, he mounted his gallant steed and 
 started for Paris, as swiftly as if his horse had had wings. 
 
 He halted in a thick wood near the town, dismounted, and 
 while his horse grazed beside him, threw himself down at the foot 
 of a great tree, and began to consider what would be his best plan 
 of operation. Overmastered by fatigue, he presently fell asleep, 
 and dreamt that a necromancer was stealing his horse. When he 
 awoke he looked about him anxiously, and called " Bayard," but 
 in vain. He called louder and louder. No answer was returned. 
 He looked carefully for marks of his horse's feet, but found none. 
 
 At the edge of the wood, he met a pilgrim, who spoke to him 
 humbly. After some conversation, the pilgrim pushed back his 
 hood, and looked at Reinold with a smile, and the young man 
 recognised his cousin Malagis. The necromancer then promised 
 to restore the brothers and Bayard safe and sound. He took 
 some yellow powder out of a box, and sprinkled it over himself 
 and Reinold, at the same time muttering his Abracadabra, and 
 in a moment they were changed into the likeness of crippled 
 beggars. Together they limped into Paris. 
 
 A crowd of richly-dressed lords and ladies were crossing the 
 bridge over the Seine, which at that time connected the island- 
 city with the mainland. The emperor was there also, and beside 
 him was the famous hero Roland, to whom he had promised the 
 horse Bayard, if he would fight and conquer the sons of Haymon. 
 The horse was led by several grooms. All at once it stopped 
 short, whinnied, jerked the reins out of the grooms' hands, and 
 trotted up to the two beggars, who were watching the procession. 
 
 " Bayard is strangely constituted," cried Count Roland ; " the 
 beast seems actually to like poor folk better than noble knights." 
 
 " Bayard ! I? this Bayard 1 " asked one of the beggars. " Oh,
 
 THE CHILDREN OF HAY At ON. 383 
 
 noble gentleman, if this be Bayard, pray permit my poor comrade 
 to mount him. A holy man told us that if he did so, he would at 
 once be cured, and, as you see, he is a lamester." 
 
 " Well, Cousin Roland," said the emperor, " help the poor fellow 
 up, that we may see a miracle for once in our lives. I only hope 
 it will be a miracle, and that the miserable wretch's arms and legs 
 may not be broken." 
 
 Roland signed to his servants, who with much difficulty hoisted 
 the ragged lamester into the saddle. They had to do it three 
 times before he was safely settled. No sooner was he firmly seated 
 than he drew himself up proudly, touched Bayard with the heel of 
 one of his wooden shoes, and galloped away so fast that no one 
 could overtake him. Malagis pretended to be much frightened 
 lest his comrade should meet with some injury from the run- 
 away horse. 
 
 At midnight, a little man might have been seen creeping 
 along the streets of Paris, dressed in a grey coat. He kept con- 
 tinually murmuring, " Ista, sista, pista, abracadabra ! " And dark 
 clouds rose and covered the sky, making the moon and stars 
 grow dim. He at last reached a tall, gloomy-looking house, 
 before which a guard was set ; but the watchmen had bent their 
 heads and fallen asleep at his approach. The strong oak doors 
 opened when he touched them with the point of his staff. He 
 entered, and went straight to an underground dungeon, where 
 three men were chained to the wall. He muttered some mysteri- 
 ous words, and the chains fell from off them. 
 
 " Rise, brothers," he said ; " your cousin Malagis is here. He 
 has come to save you." 
 
 So they rose and followed him. 
 
 Before leaving Paris, the necromancer went to the sleeping 
 emperor, and asked him for the loan of his crown and sword 
 Karl immediately gave them to him.
 
 334 CAROLINGIAN LEGENDS. 
 
 The emperor's feelings next morning may be more readily 
 imagined than described, when he heard of the events that had 
 taken place during the night He longed more than ever to have 
 his revenge on the sons of Haymon ; but could not see how to 
 accomplish his desire. 
 
 Cunning Ganelon then said that he was sure that Iwo had his 
 price, and might be induced to sell the brothers to the emperor. 
 Karl tried the plan, and won Iwo to his side, on paying him a ton's 
 weight of gold. 
 
 This done, the faithless traitor went to Montalban, and said that 
 he brought good news from Paris ; he had persuaded the emperor 
 to let bygones be bygones, and all would now be well if the four 
 brothers would only go to Falkalone unarmed, and in the garb of 
 penitents, and there beg forgiveness. The emperor had promised, 
 Iwo said, to grant them a full pardon, and to restore them to their 
 ancient dignities. 
 
 When the brothers were about to start for Falkalone, Clarissa 
 entreated them to beware lest the message were a treacherous 
 one, adding that she knew her father would sell his own child 
 for gold. Reinold sternly told her she was an unnatural 
 daughter, and bade her hold her peace. "He then rode on ; but 
 Adelhart remained behind for a moment, and hid four swords, 
 which his sister-in-law handed him, under the skirts of his peni- 
 tent's robe. 
 
 As the brothers were riding on their asses up the steep and 
 narrow path that led to Falkalone, they were set upon by an 
 armed band of warriors. Adelhart divided the swords with 
 which Clarissa had provided him, and they defended themselves 
 so well, that the count of Chalons, fearful of losing more men, 
 determined to draw a cordon round the place where the brothers 
 had taken their stand, and starve them out. 
 
 The four weary men sat down to rest. They looked anxiously
 
 THE CHILDREN OF HAYMON. 385 
 
 all round to see whether help would not come. The hot day was 
 over, and evening coming on apace, when all at once they saw 
 a well-known banner on the opposite hill. It was waved by a 
 horseman who was galloping towards them, accompanied by a 
 small band of armed men. Reinold immediately recognised his 
 Bayard, and his cousin the necromancer. 
 
 The battle at once began in the plain below. Before it had 
 lasted long, Bayard had caught sight of its master ; with a loud 
 neigh of pleasure the noble horse broke through the enemy's 
 ranks and galloped up to Reinold. Malagis dismounted, threw 
 his cousin the reins, and at the same time handed him his sword 
 Flammberg, which Clarissa had sent. Reinold flung himself into 
 the saddle, and rode down to the place of combat, followed by 
 his brothers, who had in the meantime caught some of the 
 riderless chargers that were flying from the field. The brothers 
 gained a glorious victory, and the count of Chalons only 
 succeeded in saving the remnant of his forces by retreating under 
 cover of the darkness. 
 
 " Who told the magician ? Who is the traitor ? " cried the 
 emperor, when he heard what had happened. 
 
 After many conjectures had been hazarded, every one came to 
 the conclusion that none other than Iwo had betrayed the true 
 state of matters to Malagis, and one of the courtiers added that 
 the prince of Tarasconia had taken refuge in the monastery of 
 Beaurepart. Upon which the emperor said grimly, that even the 
 walls of the sanctuary should not protect him from his vengeance, 
 and immediately despatched Roland to capture Iwo, and see him 
 hanged. 
 
 When Reinold first returned to Montalban, it was his firm 
 intention to punish his father-in-law's treachery with death ; but 
 Clarissa's entreaties prevailed, and he promised to spare him. It 
 was for fear of his vengeance that Iwo had taken refuge in the 
 
 B B
 
 3 S6 CAROL1NGIAN LEGENDS. 
 
 monastery. He never thought of the emperor turning against 
 him. Reinold did not hide his satisfaction when he learnt that 
 Karl had sent to take Iwo out of the monastery, that he might 
 hang him at Monfaucon. But Clarissa was much troubled in 
 spirit when her husband told her the news. 
 
 "Ah, my baby," she said, bending over her child, "perhaps 
 you will grow up to be a hero like your father, and then people 
 will point at you and say, ' Yes, he is very brave, and a true hero ; 
 but still, he is the grandson of a man who died on the gallows,' 
 and then you will creep away from the assembly of noble men, 
 and try to hide your shame in the wilderness." 
 
 Reinold sat for some minutes in thoughtful silence ; then 
 springing to his feet, he kissed his wife, and said : 
 
 " You are as wise and good as one of God's angels. The 
 traitor shall be saved." 
 
 He hastened to the stable, mounted his horse, and galloped 
 away to the forest of Monfaucon. There he found Iwo standing 
 at the gallows with the cord round his neck. Reinold knocked 
 down one of the executioners, cut the cord round Iwo's neck, 
 exclaiming, " Be off, you rascal, lest you be hanged after all," 
 and then beat back the other executioner, who would have re- 
 captured the prince of Tarasconia. Count Roland now came to 
 the rescue, but was soon forced to measure his length upon the 
 ground, and Reinold rode away, saying, "It was your horse's 
 fault, good cousin, not yours." 
 
 Several of the paladins, who had witnessed the short combat 
 between the heroes, began to make jesting remarks about what 
 had occurred. Roland had never been unhorsed before, except 
 once or twice by Oliver, and he took the matter grievously to 
 heart. He rode away in silence ; not to Paris, but in the direction 
 of Montalban, that he might seek vengeance for his overthrow. 
 
 As he was riding through a wood, he met a man with a cross-
 
 THE CHILDREN OF HAYMON. 387 
 
 bow, who was shooting a deer, and at once recognised him to be 
 Richard, Reinold's brother. He took him prisoner, and in spite of 
 Richard's remonstrances, and his reminders of their relationship, 
 took him to Paris, and delivered him to the emperor. Karl was 
 delighted at the lucky chance, at once condemned Richard to be 
 hung at Monfaucon, and asked which of his paladins would under- 
 take the task of seeing the sentence carried out. They all refused, 
 saying that hanging was not a seemly death for a knight to die. 
 At length Rype, a new-made knight, offered his services to the 
 emperor. A pious pilgrim who was present at the discussion, 
 begged that execution might be delayed until he had had time 
 to pray for the weal of the poor sinner at St. Denys. 
 
 But instead of going to St. Denys, the holy man went to Mort- 
 alban, and told Reinold all that had happened, bidding him make 
 haste if he would arrive at Monfaucon in time to save Richard's 
 life. Having said this, Malagis for the pilgrim was none other 
 than he went to the kitchen to ask for some food, for he was 
 tired and hungry after his long and arduous journey on foot. 
 
 Reinold, Adelhart, Wichart, and their men soon reached the 
 gallows at Monfaucon. There was no one there, so they stretched 
 themselves out on the grass and fell asleep. When Rype came 
 with his prisoner, they were still asleep ; but Bayard, hearing 
 them, awoke his master with a kick. In another moment the 
 brothers had fallen upon the imperial troops, whom they soon put 
 to flight. They then set Richard free, and hung Rype with the 
 same rope he had brought for his prisoner. 
 
 The emperor, finding that all his former attempts to avenge 
 his son's death had been in vain, determined on a new plan of 
 action. He called out a large army, and marched to lay siege 
 to Montalban. 
 
 The fortress was strictly invested. The besieged ventured on 
 making an occasional sally on the enemy without the walls, for
 
 3 S8 CAROLINGIAN LEGENDS. 
 
 the purpose of getting provisions, etc. Much blood was shed on 
 either side, but nothing decisive took place. The siege went on 
 for years, and neither party gave way. At length the garrison of 
 Montalban began to feel the want of provisions, and Reinold made 
 up his mind to a desperate step. He broke through the besiegers' 
 camp and carried off a number of provision wagons. Malagis had 
 rendered such action possible by slipping out of the fortress un- 
 noticed and sprinkling some of his sleeping powder over part of 
 the camp. As he was about to scatter another pinch, he was 
 seized by the collar, and, looking round, saw that it was strong 
 Olivier, one of the twelve paladins, who was dragging him away. 
 The rough attack had knocked the powder out of the necro- 
 mancer's hand, and it had fallen on the ground. Instead of 
 laying his hand on his sword, the little man caught hold of the 
 bag of hellebore snuff he had hidden within his garment, and 
 threw a pinch into Olivier's face. The hero sneezed and sneezed, 
 and still he sneezed; but the more convulsively he sneezed, the 
 tighter he clutched his prisoner, whom he at length dragged into 
 the emperor's presence. 
 
 "A-chew! your Highness!" he said and sneezed; "I bring 
 you a-chevv ! the wicked a-chew ! necromancer a-chew ! do 
 with him a-chew ! as you will." Here such an agony of 
 sneezing came upon poor Olivier that he could say no more. 
 
 The emperor thanked and pitied the worthy paladin, and 
 ordered that the magician should be bound, and guarded to 
 Monfaucon, where he was to be hanged. 
 
 " Sire," whimpered Malagis, " pray let me live this one more 
 night, and let me have a good supper, for I have not tasted food 
 for the last four and twenty hours." 
 
 Meanwhile the paladins and many other knights had entered 
 the royal tent. They one and all joined their entreaties to those 
 of the poor little man. Seeing that the emperor seemed inclined 
 to yield. Malagis said in a grave and solemn tone,
 
 MALAGIS CARRIES THE SLEEPING EMPEROR TO MONTALBAN, 
 
 39
 
 THE CHILDREN OF HAYMON. 391 
 
 " Your Majesty, I swear on my honour that I will not go away 
 from here without your own consent, nor will I go unless you 
 bear me company." 
 
 Karl then promised to let him have the twenty-four hours' 
 grace, and several of the knights offered their services as guards. 
 
 The lords sat down to supper, and devoted their whole atten- 
 tion to the good food and wine that were set before the-m, while 
 Malagis, curled up in a corner close at hand, appeared to do the 
 same. When supper was over, the necromancer was taken to the 
 place that was to serve him as prison, and the noble knights, who 
 had undertaken to keep watch and ward, took up their places for 
 the night. 
 
 At midnight Malagis had recourse to his knowledge of the 
 black art. He made a deep magic sleep fall upon the camp, and 
 all within its bounds, save and except himself. Then, stepping 
 softly, he made his way to the emperor's bedside, and dropped 
 a few drops of some medicament into Karl's mouth, which insured 
 his sleep lasting for twelve good hours. After which he lifted 
 him up, and carried him pickaback to the castle. The great gate 
 was flung open at the sound of his well-known voice, and great 
 was the astonishment of Reinold when he saw what burden he 
 carried on his shoulders. 
 
 " Here is the pledge of peace," said Malagis. " It has cost me 
 much hard work to bring it here. See that my labour bears fruit." 
 
 The emperor was carried to the best guest-room the castle 
 contained, and the Lady Clarissa did all that lay in her power 
 for the comfort of the great man. 
 
 Karl did not awake till noon. At first he thought he must 
 be dreaming when he saw Reinold, Malagis, and strange servants 
 about him. The truth dawned upon him gradually, and a bitter 
 truth it was. Hunger forced him to accept the food Clarissa 
 brought, though he would much rather not have eaten it. Reinold
 
 39 2 CAROLINGIAN LEGENDS. 
 
 tried by every means in his power to induce the emperor tG 
 give up his plans of vengeance, and make peace with him. 
 But his efforts were vain. Then it occurred to him that a proud, 
 hdughty nature, that could not be bent by harshness, was often 
 softened by kindness. He set Kaiser Karl at liberty, and the 
 emperor went away from Montalban without a word or sign 
 that betokened reconciliation. 
 
 When Reinold re-entered the castle, he found his cousin Malagis 
 burning boxes, bags, and all kinds of written papers. Much 
 surprised, he asked what he was doing, and Malagis replied : 
 
 " I am burning all that the noble art of necromancy has taught 
 me. I shall need these things no more, for my services are 
 useless to such a madman as you. I am now going away into 
 the wilderness to join the holy penitents, there I shall repent 
 with them in sackcloth and ashes." 
 
 He was as good as his word, for he took his departure soon 
 afterwards, never to return. 
 
 When the emperor went back to his camp, he related all his ad- 
 ventures. The paladins one and all entreated him to make peace 
 with the heroic brothers, but he refused, saying that his murdered 
 son's blood still cried aloud for vengeance. So the castle still 
 remained beleaguered, and fortune seemed to have deserted the 
 garrison with the departure of the little necromancer. The store 
 of provisions grew less every day. Hunger stared the brave men 
 in the face. Reinold, after much consideration, thought of a way 
 of escape, and made all needful preparations. One evening, when 
 darkness had begun to set in, he took leave of his weeping wife, 
 and, accompanied by his brothers and a small band of determined 
 men, made his way cautiously and silently through the enemy's 
 lines, and set out for a strong castle in the forest of Ardennes. 
 
 Next morning the emperor was told what had happened, and 
 he did what Reinold had expected. He at once ordered the
 
 THE CHILDREN OF HAYMON. 393 
 
 siege of Montalban to be raised, and started in pursuit of the 
 fugitives. He soon came up with them, but they defended them- 
 selves so well, and took such wise measures to ensure their safety, 
 that they succeeded in reaching the stronghold for which they 
 were bound. 
 
 DEATH OF BAYARD AND REINOLD. 
 
 The heroes fought as bravely as ever in defence of their new 
 place of refuge, emboldened by the knowledge that their dear 
 ones at Montalban were now free ; but however courageous a man 
 may be, hunger and disease are foes under whose attacks it is 
 impossible to hold out for ever. 
 
 In the time of their sorest distress, Aya went to the imperial 
 camp, and entreated her brother to have mercy on her children. 
 The emperor refused to listen to her, and harshly bade her go 
 out of his presence. But she returned again and again to the 
 charge, and at last Karl said : 
 
 " Very well, listen to my offer, and let Reinold accept it if he 
 will. The horse Bayard, that Malagis brought up out of hell, 
 has done me more harm than any other creature, excepting 
 Reinold himself. Now I will pardon your four sons, and restore 
 their fiefs, if Reinold will give the brute to me, to be killed as 
 I think best. I give you my word as an emperor that I will 
 accept Bayard's life in expiation of my son's death." 
 
 When Aya returned to the castle, and showed the parchment 
 on which she had had the terms of the proposed treaty written 
 out in full, Reinold refused to give up his dearest and most 
 faithful friend. 
 
 "Think of your wife, your children, and your brothers the 
 gallows at Monfaucon are prepared an inscription will be placed 
 there that will be read by future generations : ' He gave them all 
 up to die a shameful death for the sake of a dumb animal.' "
 
 394 
 
 CAROLINGTAN LEGENDS. 
 
 " Mother," cried the hero, and rushing up to Bayard, he fed his 
 faithful friend with a last piece of bread, and, bursting into tears, 
 threw his arms round its slender neck. The horse whinnied softly, 
 and laid its head trustingly on his shoulder. 
 
 " I cannot do it, mother, I cannot do it," cried Reinold. " Bay- 
 ard and I must live and die 
 together." 
 
 " Very well, my son," she 
 said ; " but remember that 
 when all my children and 
 grandchildren are hanging 
 on the gallows, your mother's 
 heart will break." 
 
 " Mother," he answered, 
 in a strange, hollow voice, 
 "have your will. You have 
 conquered, but I shall not 
 survive it." 
 
 He then signed the treaty, 
 and Aya returned with it to 
 the imperial camp. 
 
 A crowd was assembled 
 on the bridge in Paris, for 
 the news had gone abroad 
 that the famous Bayard was 
 to be drowned. Kaiser Karl 
 was there also with his pa- 
 hidins. 
 
 The noble horse was led to the middle of the bridge, with iron 
 weights fastened to its feet, and at a signal was suddenly pushed 
 over the edge, and fell with a splash into the Seine. In spite of 
 the weights upon its legs, it rose to the surface, once, twice, thrice. 
 
 BAYAKl/S DEATH.
 
 THE CHILDREN OF HAYMON. 195 
 
 " That horse is the devil incarnate," cried the emperor furiously. 
 * Ha, Count Reinold, beware, its eyes are fixed on you ; if you 
 are keeping it alive by any enchantment, it will be the worse 
 for you. I will tear up the treaty." 
 
 With a low cry of terror Aya flung her arms round her son, 
 drawing down his head, so that he did not see how Bayard rose a 
 fourth time, and then, not seeing its master's face, sank, to rise no 
 more 
 
 The hero felt that all his happiness was gone with Bayard. 
 He thrust his mother aside, flung at the emperor's feet the letters 
 patent entitling him to his fiefs, and breaking his sword Flamm- 
 berg, threw it into the Seine, muttering, 
 
 " Lie there with my Bayard, and may God forget to be gracious 
 to me, if I ever mount a horse or draw a sword again." 
 
 Then he turned, and fled into the depths of the wild forest, 
 until at last he sank exhausted on the ground. There he re- 
 mained for two days and a night, overwhelmed and mad with 
 misery. 
 
 After that he went home to Montalban. Meeting a pilgrim on 
 the way, he gave him his golden spurs and all his ready money 
 for his grey robes and felt hat. 
 
 Lady Clarissa wept when she heard the end of the noble horse, 
 for she had loved Bayard ; but she wept still more bitterly, when 
 Reinold took leave of her for ever 
 
 " Who will teach our sons," she cried, " to be true knights and 
 noble men, if you go and leave them thus ? " 
 
 " Our cousin Count Roland will do so," he answered, " and you 
 will do your part, dear wife." He kissed the tears from her eyes, 
 and continued : " Accept no fief from Kaiser Karl. Go with our 
 children to our own lands on the other side of the mountains. 
 The tyrant has no power there, for the lands are your own. As 
 for me, I am about to start on a pilgrimage to the grave of
 
 396 CAROLING/AN LEGENDS. 
 
 our Lord, to see whether I may find forgiveness. You will never 
 see me again." 
 
 Saying this, he tore himself away, and set out at once upon 
 his long and toilsome journey. 
 
 Reinold went to the Holy Land, where he found a fierce war 
 raging between the Christians and Infidels. He was true to his 
 vow. He neither mounted a horse, nor wielded a sword ; but 
 still he fought like a hero with an enormous club, and helped 
 in the taking of Jerusalem. After he had prayed at the Holy 
 Sepulchre, he returned to his native land ; but not to his wife 
 and children, nor yet to his brothers, for he had died to all earthly 
 ties and joys. He went to Cologne, where the cathedral was 
 being built. There he lived a hard, ascetic life, and worked as a 
 labourer at the building. He did not even stop working during 
 the hour of rest in the middle of the day, although his wages were 
 only a penny a day. This conduct aroused the anger of the 
 stone-masons, so they rose in a body, killed him, and threw his 
 body into the Rhine. But the river would not keep it, the corpse 
 floated on the surface of the water, and was drawn to land by 
 some pious souls. And now several miracles were wrought upon 
 those who touched his body, which showed that he had been a 
 holy man. The emperor, hearing of the wonders that had taken 
 place, had the murderers tried and executed, and sent orders that 
 the body of the saint should be brought to Aix-la-Chapelle 
 (Aachen), or to Paris. No sooner was the body laid upon the 
 cart which was to convey it, than the vehicle moved of its own 
 accord, and rolled on and on, no matter how bad the roads, till it 
 arrived at Dortmund in Westphalia, where it stopped, that being 
 the spot the saint had evidently chosen as his last resting-place. 
 The Reinaldi-Church at Dortmund was built in his honour. 
 
 The Legend gives the exact date of the miracle, ?th of January, 
 8lL
 
 II. ROLAND. 
 
 SIEGE OF VIANE (VIENNE). 
 
 TVAISER KARL had not been married very long. He held 
 * * a great assembly of the notables. Count Gerhart appeared 
 amongst the rest, for he expected that this would be the time 
 chosen by the emperor to iavest him with the promised fief oi 
 Viane (Vienne in France), and<j.^rhaps also with that of Burgundy. 
 When he received the letters patent relating to the first of these, 
 he stooped, and, in fulfilment of ancient custom, would have 
 kissed the emperor's foot ; but he staggered, for the empress had 
 stuck out her foot, which he involuntarily touched with his lips 
 in falling. 
 
 " He must have drunk too much Burgundy before he would 
 have kissed the foot of the Lady, whose rosy mouth he formerly 
 disdained. Wine teaches humility," murmured the courtiers. 
 
 Gerhart sprang to his feet, his cheeks flushing with anger. He 
 waited in expectation of the second letter ; but the emperor told 
 him that he could not have the fief of Burgundy, for the empress, 
 who was also the widow of the last duke, was strongly against it 
 The count took his leave with a low bow, and set out for Vienne, 
 his heart boiling with rage. Arrived there, he called out his 
 troops, and sent to ask his brother, the mighty lord of Apulia, 
 for help against his sovereign. He knew that the emperor's heart 
 would henceforth be turned against him, for was not the empress
 
 398 CAROLINGIAN LEGENDS. 
 
 that same widowed duchess of Burgundy whose proffered love he 
 had rejected? 
 
 The brothers took the field at the head of a great army. With 
 them came their younger brother Rainier, his son Olivier, a bold 
 warrior, and his daughter Auda, who was marvellously beautiful, 
 and brave as one of the Northern valkyrs. 
 
 Karl besieged the stronghold on the river Rhone where they 
 had taken up their abode. The place seemed impregnable, for 
 it was defended by brave men, rocks, and river. Sometimes the 
 besiegers tried to take the citadel by storm, and sometimes part 
 of the garrison would make an attack on the enemy beneath the 
 walls. On such occasions, Auda would now and then accompany 
 her friends dressed in full armour, and would fight with the best. 
 Once when she had done so, she found that her opponent was 
 none other than strong Roland. He disarmed her without even 
 drawing his sword, and took her prisoner. Her brother Olivier, 
 seeing what had happened, at once came to the rescue. While 
 the heroes were engaged in single combat, Auda made good her 
 escape, and took refuge in the castle, where she was soon after- 
 wards joined by the rest of the party. The siege continued. The 
 Lady Auda often stood on the battlements, and helped to fling 
 stones on the heads of those warriors who came within reach of 
 their missiles. One day Roland came with the rest, and, seeing 
 the maiden, asked her name and parentage. When she had told 
 him, and he had answered by informing her that he was Count 
 Roland, a nephew of the emperor, he went on to say that he loved 
 her, and would never cease to woo her, even though it were at 
 the cost of his life. At this moment Olivier appeared, and flung 
 a spear at him, upon which Roland challenged him to single 
 combat on an island in the Rhone. 
 
 The heroes and their horses were ferried over the river to the 
 island, and there they fought. Each of the combatants displayed
 
 ROLAND. 399 
 
 the most heroic valour. At length, when evening was drawing 
 on, a fleecy cloud hovered over them, and, coming between 
 them, forced them apart. An angel wrapped in rosy light came 
 out of the cloud, and said : 
 
 " Wherefore do you fight, Christian against Christian ? Why 
 would you shed a brother's blood ? I call upon you to be re- 
 conciled in the name of the Saviour who died upon the cross. 
 Be of one heart and of one mind, and turn your arms against 
 the adversaries of the true faith." 
 
 The angel then waved a palm branch as a sign of farewell, and 
 vanished. 
 
 The two men exchanged a hearty shake of the hand, and sat 
 down to talk over matters of much moment to both of them. 
 Before they separated, Olivier had promised to use his influence 
 with his sister in Roland's favour, and the latter had given his 
 word to fight no more against Vienne, and its defenders. 
 
 Now the emperor was very fond of hunting, and used to go on 
 many an expedition into the neighbouring country in search of 
 game. On one such occasion he and his companions were at- 
 tacked and hard pressed by a party of Viennese under the leader- 
 ship of Olivier. At one moment it seemed as if Karl must lose 
 his life in the struggle. Olivier, seeing this, protected him with 
 his shield. When the combat was over, the emperor and Olivier 
 had some talk together, and the former was so touched and pleased 
 with the noble and generous disposition of the young man, that 
 he not only promised to make peace, but to appoint Olivier one 
 of his paladins, to forgive Gerhart, and to restore the fiefs he 
 held under him. 
 
 There was great joy in Vienne and all the neighbouring country 
 when the news of the peace was spread abroad. Smiling faces 
 were everywhere to be seen, and happiest of all was perhaps Kaiser 
 Karl himself. A few days later a time was fixed for the public
 
 4 OD CAROLINGIAN LEGENDS. 
 
 betrothal of Roland and Auda. Great preparations were made, 
 and all was done to make the day a joyful one. 
 
 While the heroes were sitting at the feast in the royal tent, 
 messengers appeared from the banks of the Garonne, who brought 
 the sad news that the Moorish king Eigoland had come from 
 Africa with a large army of blacks, had fallen upon Gascony, 
 and laid waste the country with fire and sword. 
 
 " That is good news," said brave Roland, " for an angel appeared 
 to my comrade Olivier and me, and told us to fight against the 
 infidel." 
 
 " It is bad news," answered the emperor, " for the Moor is a 
 great warrior, and has an immense number of black devils at 
 his back. Listen, noble knights, and I will tell you what 
 happened years ago. After the death of my father- Pipin, my 
 step-brothers, the sons of cunning Bertha, drove me out of my 
 inheritance. I found refuge with the heathen king Marsilio at 
 Saragossa. With the help of brave Diebolt, I regained my 
 rights, was crowned king of the Franks at Aix (Aachen), and 
 emperor in Rome. One night St. James, the apostle, appeared 
 to me, and commanded me to free his grave, to which there was 
 a yearly pilgrimage, from the yoke of the infidel. I obeyed 
 him, and reduced the whole country as far as Galicia, where 
 the apostle lies buried. There I learnt that Eigoland had 
 come over from Africa, and had already reached Pampeluna. 
 I marched back at once, and met the Moorish forces near the 
 river Ceres. There was a terrible battle. The Africans fought 
 like very devils. They broke through our ranks, and defeat 
 seemed certain. Then the brave Milo, my brother-in-law, and 
 your father, nephew Roland, threw himself upon the demons at 
 the head of his men. They fought like heroes, and defeated 
 the enemy. But before the victory was quite decided, the noble 
 Milo fell, wounded to death. The loss on both sides was so
 
 ROLAND. 401 
 
 great that either party retreated on the morrow. Eigoland 
 returned to his African deserts ; but he seems to have come 
 back at the head of a larger army than before, and to have 
 invaded our own land. We must now fight for home and faith, 
 for on this crisis will depend whether Christ or Machmet shall 
 rule the Franks." 
 
 "I think this much is certain," said Roland : "we shall con- 
 quer, whether we live or die. Was not my father victorious, 
 though he fell at Pampeluna ? The Lord would not deny him 
 the martyr's crown, when he passed away on that field of blood. 
 Here, or there, ye Frankish men, what does it matter which? 
 The crown is ours." 
 
 As he spoke, his eyes shone with enthusiasm. 
 
 "And what is to become of me," whispered Auda, "if you 
 do not return?" 
 
 " You are the angel that shall give me the palm, either here 
 or there," he answered ; and before the assembled knights and 
 ladies he gave her the kiss of affiance. 
 
 GANELON. 
 
 Next day they marched to meet the enemy, whom they saw 
 when they had at length reached the beautiful land that is 
 watered by the Dordone (Dordogne). The morning after their 
 arrival, a terrible battle took place between them and the Moors. 
 Roland, Olivier, Ogier, Archbishop Turpin, and the other paladins 
 fought like heroes, and led their men again and again against 
 the foe. At night-fall, and not till then, did the Moors acknow- 
 ledge themselves beaten. They fled to Pampeluna, where they 
 found more troops that had just arrived from Africa. Eigoland 
 and his men were impatient to avenge the defeat they had 
 sustained, and they were sure that they could do so, for they 
 trusted in their numbers, their skill, and their prophet. 
 
 c c
 
 402 CAROLINGIAN LEGENDS. 
 
 Karl did not at once follow the fugitives. He waited for 
 reinforcements from France, and from Marsilio, who, although a 
 heathen, had formerly aided him. He sent messengers to him ; 
 but soon afterwards learnt that the faithless king had murdered 
 them, and had joined the Moors. Then the emperor called his 
 heroes around him, and, telling them of the evil tidings he had 
 had, asked them whether they advised him to risk a battle, 
 when the enemy's numbers were so overwhelming. 
 
 "Let us go forward," cried brave Roland ; "before us lie two 
 objects, victory or paradise ; who is it that will draw back ? " 
 
 The rest agreed with him, and the horns sounded to battle ; 
 and a great battle took place, in which many men were slain 
 on either side, and each party fought with a desperate valour. 
 At last Eigoland fell under the sword of Roland, and then the 
 Moors took flight. 
 
 The emperor reduced the country to obedience to his rule. 
 Saragossa alone held out, for there Marsilio had taken up his 
 station and determined to defend the town alone until the arrival 
 of the troops his liege lord Baligant, caliph of Babylon, had 
 promised to send to his aid. Karl, remembering his former 
 kindness, had determined to treat Marsilio with the greatest 
 forbearance. He therefore sent Ganelon, one of his paladins, 
 to offer the king terms, and they were these : Marsilio's life 
 should be spared if he would be baptized, and become a vassal 
 of the empire. Ganelon would have liked to decline the honour 
 of carrying this message ; but he knew the emperor too well 
 to dare remonstrance. 
 
 The king received the ambassador with all kindness, listened 
 to his message quietly, and begged for a short time to think the 
 matter over, and consult his friends. Meanwhile he led Ganelon 
 over the palace, and showed him all his treasures. When he 
 saw that the sight of these things had had the desired effect on
 
 ROLAND. 403 
 
 the ambassador, he offered him three baggage-horse loads of gold, 
 three of silver, and three of costly stuffs, if he would turn the 
 emperor's vengeance away from him, and save him from becoming 
 a Prankish vassal. Ganelon promised to do all that the heathen 
 wished ; nay, for double the reward, he even promised to detain 
 a division of the Prankish army when the rest had gone away, 
 on the pretext of guarding the country, and then to deliver them 
 into Marsilio's hands. The compact was soon concluded, and 
 each of the contracting parties swore to keep his share of the 
 bargain. 
 
 Marsilio, who thought little of bloodshed, did not hesitate to 
 hand over some of the nobles of his host as hostages for his 
 good faith, which therefore was not doubted. Ganelon spoke 
 strongly of Marsilio's repentance for the past, and promises for 
 the future ; and then, when he had succeeded in turning matters 
 as he wished, and the emperor was about to return to France 
 with his whole army in the belief that he now possessed a faithful 
 vassal in Marsilio, went on to persuade him to leave Roland 
 and the other paladins behind at the head of a small force to 
 watch the borders. His eloquence carried all before it, and what 
 he advised was done. He alone of all the paladins returned 
 to France with the emperor, while Roland and the other ten 
 remained with six thousand chosen warriors to guard the land 
 from foreign invasion. 
 
 AT RONCEVAL (VALE OF THORNS). 
 
 The heroes spent one quiet day after the army had gone. 
 On the second morning, their outposts came in to announce 
 the approach of a large army, so they got ready for the fight. 
 Roland led his forces to Ronceval, a narrow pass between two 
 high mountains, which he determined to defend. The Moors,
 
 404 CAROLINGIAN LEGENDS. 
 
 more than twenty thousand strong, came up with the Franks 
 before they had reached the end of the pass. 
 
 " Blow your horn," said Olivier, " the emperor will hear you 
 and return, he cannot have got very far yet." 
 
 Roland gazed at his great horn, Olifant, which was hanging 
 at his side. It was made of ivory with gold inlaid, and, when 
 blown by one who understood how to sound it, would send its 
 voice for miles around. 
 
 " Look, faithful friend," said the hero, " I was given this horn, 
 and my good sword Durindart, by an angel from heaven. I 
 then swore only to blow the horn in case of utmost need. We 
 are not now in such a case ; I think we are strong enough to 
 make these heathen bite the dust. Ha! what do I see? Look, 
 there is the traitor Marsilio ! No doubt the faithless Ganelon 
 has betrayed us for much red gold, but we will fight for the good 
 cause. Monjoie, Saint Denys ! Up, soldiers of Christ, let us 
 do battle for our holy Faith!" 
 
 The heroes and their men rushed on to meet the Moorish hosts, 
 who withstood their furious onslaught with the greatest courage ; 
 but after a while fell back, and fled, pursued by the Christians, 
 who slew all they came up with. 
 
 When the heroes had recalled their little army from the pursuit, 
 they made their men sit down and rest. Before they had sat very 
 long, they were startled by a shout behind them of " Machmet ! 
 Machmet ! " and a great blowing of trumpets and beating of 
 drums. A larger army than that which they had already put to 
 flight was approaching in their rear. Marsilio was at its head. 
 
 Roland prepared for battle. He sent Count Walter to guard a 
 wooded height, and then, accompanied by his brother Balduin, 
 brave Olivier, the bold Archbishop Turpin, and the other paladins, 
 advanced with his men against the foe. 
 
 The battle raged with intensest fury round the leaders. Wild.
 
 ROLAND. 405 
 
 cries and the clash of arms filled the air. At last Roland flew' at 
 Marsilio, but next moment his horse was killed beneath him. He 
 sprang to his feet, and fought so desperately that the Moors turned 
 and fled. He looked round, and could see none but the dead or 
 dying. He raised his horn to his lips, and blew a mighty blast. 
 About a hundred men-at-arms appeared in answer to his call, then 
 came a few more, and lastly Olivier, Balduin, Archbishop Turpin, 
 and others of the heroes. 
 
 " Your horn has a goodly sound, and carries far, friend Roland," 
 said Olivier ; " the emperor must have heard it, and will return 
 and help us. It will be high time, in sooth ; for see how the wild 
 Moors assemble in close order, and prepare to renew the attack." 
 
 " Up, ye faithful of the Lord," cried Roland ; " close your ranks. 
 May Christ preserve us ! " 
 
 The hero mounted an Arab horse he had caught a moment 
 before, and took his place at the head of his men. Soon spears 
 were hurtling through the air, and swords were clashing. Many a 
 doughty deed was done by small and great in the Christian force ; 
 but fight as they might, the Franks were so few in number, that it 
 seemed as if the Moors must finally prevail. Olivier fell defending 
 his friend and brother-in-arms. Roland's sword did such terrible 
 execution that the Moors once more retreated in fear, and the hero 
 was too weary to pursue them. His wounded horse fell dead be- 
 neath him, and he, bleeding from many wounds, and feeling that 
 his end was near, staggered into a neighbouring gorge, and sank 
 upon the ground at the foot of a rock. Then, raising his eyes to 
 heaven, he whispered, 
 
 " Lord, give me grace in Thy sight. Receive, if so be that Thou 
 hearest me, this pledge of my submission to Thy will." 
 
 So saying, he held up his gauntlet ; a soft breeze passed over 
 his face, and an invisible hand took the gauntlet, and bore it away. 
 The hero then lifted his sword Durindart, and tried to break it
 
 406 CAROLINGIAN LEGENDS. 
 
 against the rock, that it might not fall into the hands of the 
 Moors. But the marble rock was split by the blow, while the 
 sword remained unharmed. He now blew his horn for the third 
 time. The worthy Archbishop Turpin limped up to him, then 
 came Balduin, Roland's half-brother, his faithful squire Thiedrich, 
 and bold Walter, who had defended the height committed to his 
 charge until all his men were slain. 
 
 Time passed slowly with the wounded men. At last they heard 
 the glad sound of horns blowing, and the clanking of armour. 
 Kaiser Karl had come back to their assistance. But before he 
 arrived, Roland had gone to the realms of eternal peace. His 
 faithful squire told the emperor, with tears in his eyes, that he had 
 seen one of God's angels come to receive his master's soul. Then 
 he went on to tell of Marsilio's faithlessness, of the battles which 
 had that day been fought, and of the suspicion they all felt that 
 Ganelon had betrayed them into the hands of the Moor. 
 
 " You were right there," said the emperor; " the traitor deceived 
 me also. I wanted to return the moment I heard Count Roland's 
 horn, but Ganelon dissuaded me, saying that my nephew must only 
 be hunting." 
 
 The bodies of the Prankish soldiers were buried, while those of 
 the paladins who had lost their lives at Ronceval, amongst whom 
 were Turpin, Roland, Olivier, and Walter, were to be taken away 
 and embalmed for burial in France. Ganelon was at the same 
 time arrested and bound. 
 
 These things done, the emperor marched against the Moors, who 
 meanwhile had been reinforced by the arrival of Caliph Baligant 
 of Babylon with hosts of followers. The battle between the Chris- 
 tian and Moorish forces lasted two days, and was then decided 
 in favour of the Franks. Baligant died on the field, and Marsilio 
 at Saragossa. This victory gave Spain to the conqueror. 
 
 The emperor returned to France. Halt was made by the vine-
 
 ROLAND. 407 
 
 clad banks of the Dordone, and the bodies of the fallen heroes 
 were interred at Blaive, after which the march to Paris was re- 
 sumed. There the feast of victory was held, and when it was over, 
 Kaiser Karl set out for Aix, where Ganelon was tried before a 
 jury of twelve of his peers. He was sentenced to prove his 
 innocence by single combat against Thiedrich, Roland's faithful 
 squire. As Ganelon was much weakened by his imprisonment, he 
 was allowed to choose any one he liked to act as proxy for him. 
 He chose Pinabel, one of the most famous swordsmen of his day; 
 but that availed him nothing ; God fought for Thiedrich, and 
 Pinabel was overthrown. Ganelon was then sentenced to be torn 
 in pieces by wild horses. 
 
 Soon after this, fair Auda came to Aix in search of her be- 
 trothed. None of the warriors had courage to tell her the truth, 
 so they referred her to the emperor, and he told her with tears 
 in his eyes. 
 
 " Dead," she said ; " Roland dead ! " 
 
 With these words she sank lifeless to the ground, so they took 
 her away, and buried her beside her hero in the vault at Blaive.
 
 III. WILLIAM OF ORANGE. 
 
 THE INHERITANCE. 
 
 HENRY of Narbonne, who was both a good man 
 and a hero, lived at the time when Kaiser Karl ruled over 
 the Franks. He was held in much esteem by the emperor, because 
 of his valorous deeds, and had received many fiefs in addition to 
 his paternal estates. After a time he withdrew to his own castle, 
 and, together with his wife, occupied himself with the education of 
 his seven sons, and several daughters. Years passed on, and the 
 sons all grew up to man's estate. One day their father called 
 them to him, and said that he had a story to tell them, to which 
 they must listen attentively. 
 
 " You must know," he said, " that once, long ago, I sank 
 exhausted on the field of battle, worn with fighting, and covered 
 with wounds. The enemy rushed up to slay me, but a faithful 
 squire defended me at the risk of his own life. Just as further help 
 arrived, he sank severely wounded on the blooming heather beside 
 me. We were removed from the field, and every care and atten- 
 tion was lavished on us. I got better, but he grew weaker every 
 day. He was not afraid to die, but he was troubled about the fate 
 of his little son, whom he would leave an orphan, for his wife 
 had died some time before. I comforted the man who had given 
 his life for me, by telling him that I would be a father to the boy, 
 and that if he grew up fit for the trust, he should be my heir, 
 
 408
 
 WILLIAM OF ORANGE. 409 
 
 whether I had children of my own or not. He is now a gallant 
 knight and brave warrior, and I am proud to call him my pupil. 
 Now, my sons, tell me, do you wish me to keep my word to my 
 dying preserver, or do you desire to share my estate amongst 
 you ? " 
 
 Then one of the sons, named William, answered for the rest, and 
 said that they would all rather be beggars than that their father 
 should break his word to his faithful squire. 
 
 "Not beggars," cried the Countess Irmschart. "All that I 
 brought my husband belongs to you, and your father has already 
 endowed you with a priceless inheritance ; namely, his piety, 
 his good faith both to God and man, his courage, and all the 
 lessons in knightliness he has given you. This is an inheritance 
 that cannot be taken from you." 
 
 "Well, my sons," continued the count, "you may go to the 
 emperor's court in the full certainty that you will get on there, if 
 you are true to the lessons you have learnt in your youth." 
 
 The young warriors followed their father's advice. They were 
 well received by the emperor, at first for Count Henry's sake, and 
 then for their own. They fought against the Moors when Eigoland 
 invaded Gascony, and helped to avenge the death of the heroes at 
 Ronceval. After their return from Spain, the emperor knighted 
 the brothers, and gave them considerable fiefs. William, who en- 
 joyed the special favour of his liege lord, was made governor of the 
 whole southern coast of France. He showed himself a vigilant 
 warden of the coast. Wherever any Saracens ventured to land, 
 there he was with his troopers to beat them back, and sometimes 
 even seized their ships. 
 
 After the death of Kaiser Karl, surnamed the Great, his son 
 Ludwig succeeded him on the throne. The first action of the new 
 ruler was to go about the country, and see in what condition it 
 was. Amongst other places, he visited the castle where Count
 
 4 io CAROL1NGIAN LEGENDS. 
 
 William lived with his youngest sister. Ludwig was so taken with 
 the maiden's beauty and sweetness, that he fell in love with her, 
 and soon afterwards married her. This circumstance increased 
 Count William's influence at court, and enabled him to keep up a 
 larger army, and do what he otherwise considered necessary for the 
 proper defence of the coast. 
 
 CAPTIVITY AND DELIVERANCE. 
 
 Peace lasted for a long time under the wise rule of Count 
 William, but, suddenly and unexpectedly, the Moors invaded the 
 land, under the lead of the powerful Emirs Terreman and Balikan. 
 King Ludwig and Count William attacked the children of the 
 desert, and strove to chase them from the country. After perform- 
 ing many feats of valour, William was at last surrounded by the 
 Moors, and carried off a prisoner to Valencia by the Emir Tibalt, 
 whose captive he was by the fortune of war. 
 
 Arrived at Valencia, the count was chained up in a dark and 
 dismal dungeon, and placed under the charge of the emir's wife, 
 Arabella, during her husband's absence on a plundering expedition. 
 Before going away, Tibalt told his wife to feed the prisoner on 
 bread and water, and forbade her on any account to take off his 
 chains. He added that he hoped on his return to find him willing 
 to embrace the Mahommedan religion. 
 
 For some time Arabella did as her husband had desired with the 
 strictest punctuality, but after a time she became curious to see 
 what the Prankish prisoner was like. So she made her servants 
 accompany her with torches to the cell. She saw that William was 
 a goodly man, and felt sorry for him. As for him, he never could 
 have imagined that an infidel could look so gentle and like an 
 angel. 
 
 The weeks passed quickly. Arabella tried to teach the count 
 her religion, by repeating passages of the Koran, and by entreating
 
 WILLIAM OF ORANGE. 411 
 
 him to remember that he had only to become a Mahommedan, and 
 he would at once be free. And he, on his side, told her about 
 God and Christ, and explained to her the religion of mercy and 
 love. What he said came home to her heart. She visited him 
 again and again, thought over his teachings when she sat quietly 
 in her own room, and at last confessed that she wished to become 
 a Christian. She and William had by this time learnt to love each 
 other, so they determined to fly to King Ludwig. 
 
 By the help of an old and faithful servant, Arabella hired a vessel, 
 set the count free, and went on board with him. The captain, on 
 learning that he was to steer for the coast of France, refused point- 
 blank to do so ; and William, without an instant's hesitation, flung 
 him overboard. He then threatened to slay the mate if he did 
 not obey him in all things, and he looked so terrible with his drawn 
 sword and stern face, that the crew durst not disobey him. 
 
 Meanwhile Tibalt returned from his raid, and learnt all that had 
 occurred from the captain, who had swum ashore. He embarked 
 without loss of time, and set sail in pursuit of the runaways, but 
 only came within bow-shot Just as William and Arabella landed 
 and took refuge in the citadel 
 
 Tibalt vainly tried to take the place by storm, and had at 
 last to return to Valencia without accomplishing the object of his 
 voyage. 
 
 Ludwig invited Count William and Arabella to his court, where 
 they were received with the utmost kindness by both him and his 
 queen. Every one admired the Moorish lady's beauty, and thought 
 her lovelier than any one about the court, even than the queen 
 herself. This roused the queen's jealousy, and she began to treat 
 both her brother and Arabella with marked coldness. 
 
 Count William and his bride went on to Avignon, where they 
 were married by Pope Leo, after Arabella had been received into 
 the Christian Church. She was given the name of Gyburg at her
 
 412 CAROLINGIAN LEGENDS. 
 
 baptism, as that was an old family name in the house of Nar- 
 bonne. Ludwig was present at the marriage, but the queen said 
 she was too busy to go. 
 
 A few days after this, William sent his wife home to Orange, 
 while he accompanied King Ludwig to Italy, with the object of 
 recovering Rome and the States of the Church for the banished 
 Pope. This they succeeded in doing after much fighting ; and 
 when Leo was once more master of the imperial city, he showed 
 his gratitude to the Frankish king by crowning him emperor in 
 the room of his great father. 
 
 When the coronation feast was over, the warriors all returned 
 home, and William with the rest. He and his wife lived happily at 
 Orange, and, as they had no children, William adopted the son of 
 one of his sisters who had died early, and brought him up as his 
 heir. The boy Vivian (or Vivianz) grew up to be a bold youth, 
 and showed promise of future excellence. 
 
 MORE FIGHTING. 
 
 As it happened, Vivian was to have a chance of winning glory 
 at an early age. The Moors invaded France in hordes. They 
 swept over Aquitaine in no time, and seemed as though they 
 would soon have the rule in France. Count William took leave of 
 his wife, and, accompanied by young Vivian and his men-at-arms, 
 set out to meet, and, if it might be, drive back the bold invaders. 
 
 The armies met on the plain of Alischanz (Alicon). " Mach- 
 met ! Machmet ! " was the cry on one side, and " Monjoie, St. 
 Denys ! " on the other. 
 
 The battle began, and raged for hours ; young Vivian fought 
 like a hero, and then fell, mortally wounded. His men avenged 
 his fall. He was insensible for some time, and when he came to 
 himself again, he found that he was lying on the battle-field sur- 
 rounded by the bodies of the slain. He was very thirsty, and
 
 WILLIAM OF ORANGE. 
 
 413 
 
 prayed for a drink of water. His prayer was heard. A shining 
 angel came down from heaven, and supported his tottering steps 
 to the side of a little rushing brook, where he quenched his raging 
 thirst. Before finally disappearing from sight, the angel said, 
 " The good town of Orange and kind Gyburg are in danger." 
 The young man fainted again when he heard these words. On 
 recovering his senses, he saw his uncle bending over him, and had 
 just strength enough to repeat the warning given him by the 
 angel, before he fell back dead. 
 
 wrf-i' y 
 
 ** " i ,<Vj 
 
 WILLIAM OF ORANGE AND HIS DYING NEPHEW. 
 
 The count considered what was to be done. He had lost sight 
 of his men in the wild hand-to-hand conflict in which he had cut 
 his way through the enemy's ranks ; and then, coming upon his 
 nephew's broken shield, he had followed his bloody track until he 
 found him. The battle was now at an end ; but without men how 
 could he save Gyburg and Orange ? His horse was so severely 
 wounded that he had to lead it by the rein. Without further loss 
 of time, he set out on his long and toilsome walk. At daybreak 
 he met a Moorish commander with several followers. He was at
 
 4 i4 CAROLINGTAN LEGENDS. 
 
 once attacked by them, but with the first blow he clove the emir to 
 the saddle, and put his men to flight. Finding himself alone and 
 unobserved, he slipped the emir's dress over his armour, and, 
 mounting the emir's horse, pursued his journey to Orange. He 
 made his way in safety to the castle gate, which opened in time to 
 receive him just as the enemy had recognised the Frankish ac- 
 coutrements of his wounded war-horse, for the faithful beast had 
 followed him all the way. 
 
 The besiegers tried again and again to storm the castle, but in 
 vain. At last they determined to starve the garrison out. After a 
 time, the inmates of the castle suffered so much from want of food 
 that the count made up his mind to slip through the Moorish 
 hosts to bring back reinforcements and provisions. He made his 
 wife and captains swear to hold the fortress at all hazards, and 
 then, donning the garments he had taken from the emir, set out 
 on his perilous undertaking. 
 
 He made his way through the enemy's lines, and reached 
 Orleans in safety. There he was taken prisoner by the captain of 
 the guard, and ordered to instant death as a Moorish infidel. In 
 vain he assured the man that he was a Christian and a Frank ; in 
 vain he told him his name and rank ; neither the captain nor any 
 one else would believe him, and he was in great danger of being 
 torn in pieces by the excited populace. Fortunately, at that mo- 
 ment the governor of the town appeared at the head of an armed 
 force, and, on seeing William, at once recognised him as his brother, 
 and took him away to his house. The count would have nothing 
 to eat but bread and water ; he could not feast while his wife 
 and his men were fasting. Having rested for an hour or two, he 
 set out again on his way t > court. 
 
 Ludwig received him coldly, and his sister was still more 
 unkind. Indeed, the empress went so far as to say, that for aught 
 any one knew, the Moorish woman might have sent for those
 
 WILLIAM OF ORANGE. 415 
 
 Saracens ; she might be tired of France and Christianity, and want 
 to return to her own people. Ludwig showed himself unwilling 
 to call out his troops, saying that William was strong enough to 
 help himself. 
 
 Day after day passed, and nothing was done. Meanwhile the 
 rumour spread that the count of Orange had come to court to 
 ask for help against the Moors ; and the aged count of Narbonne, 
 his six sons, and many noble knights came to offer their help in 
 the good work. When they heard how ill William had fared at 
 court, the lord of Narbonne went to the emperor, and warned 
 him that if he did not support his vassals in their need, he must 
 not be surprised if they threw off his suzerainty. Then, turning 
 to his daughter, he told her plainly what he thought of her 
 conduct, and threatened her with his curse if she did not forget 
 her foolish rancour and do her duty. This bold speaking had 
 such good effect, that orders were at once given to call out a great 
 army, which assembled in an incredibly short time. 
 
 On hearing of the approach of a Prankish host, the Moors 
 hastened to their ships, leaving their tents and provisions behind. 
 These William gladly seized for the use of the imperial troops. 
 Life and bustle now reigned in the castle from garret to cellar, 
 and the cooks had hard work to provide food for so many men. 
 Among the scullions was a tall strong young fellow, a Moor by 
 birth, who had been stolen from his home, and presented by his 
 captors to Kaiser Ludwig. William thought from his appearance 
 that he must be of noble birth, but every one else regarded him as 
 half-witted, and called him nothing but Jack Dunderhead. While 
 he was at the palace, he had once had the good fortune to save 
 the Princess Alice from a wolf. The only reward he asked of 
 her was that she would keep the adventure a secret. This she 
 did. But when he was going to the wars with the other officers 
 of the royal kitchen, she sought him out and gave him a ring as
 
 416 CAROLINGIAN LEGENDS. 
 
 a farewell gift. After his arrival at Orange, William's attention 
 was drawn to him ; and seeing the heroic qualities of the youth, 
 and the masterly fashion in which he handled his quarter-staff, the 
 only weapon he possessed, he redeemed him from servitude, took 
 him to the Lady Gyburg, and desired her to provide him with 
 coat of mail and all the requisites of a warrior. Rennewart, for 
 that was his real name, was so grateful for this kindness that he 
 swore to be faithful to William to the death. And, as he turned 
 to leave the room, the countess heard him say, in a low voice : 
 
 " Now, at length, I can show that I am of royal lineage, and 
 may strive to win my pearl. Ah, father Terramer, while you 
 have forgotten your long-lost son, he has become a Frank, and 
 is both able and willing to fight for his new and better country." 
 
 These words revealed to Gyburg that Rennewart was her own 
 brother, so she called him back hastily and told him all. After 
 this joyful recognition, he went out in full armour, but still 
 bearing the long staff he had always carried for his defence. He 
 joined the rest of the forces and marched with them to fight the 
 Moors, who were awaiting them on the shore. 
 
 The battle began, and Rennewart showed himself so good a 
 warrior as to justify Count William's trust to the full. He even 
 attacked and boarded some of the Moorish ships, freed the 
 Christian slaves who were attached to the oars, and, getting them 
 to join him, drove the Moors overboard, and, taking several of high 
 degree prisoners, returned to the castle. 
 
 Among the prisoners taken was the Moorish commander Ter- 
 ramer. Badly wounded, and broken-hearted at his utter defeat, 
 he was astonished at the kindness with which he was tended by 
 William and Gyburg, to whom he had tried to do so much harm. 
 But he soon made friends with them, and was then rejoiced to 
 see the son he had long mourned as dead. 
 
 A few days later William and Gyburg went with the victorious
 
 WILLIAM OF ORANGE, 417 
 
 army to where Ludwig was staying with the court. They met 
 with a hearty reception, and the count of Orange was created 
 duke of Aquitaine, while Rennewart was given the town and 
 district of Nismes. The emperor then rewarded all the other 
 leaders for their services, and gave a great feast to the men-at- 
 arms, and a banquet to the nobles. 
 
 While the heroes were enjoying the good things provided for 
 their entertainment, the empress noticed that the young hero 
 Rennewart sat silent and absorbed, till her daughter Alise ap~ 
 preached to fill his glass ; then his eyes rested joyfully on her 
 countenance, the royal maiden blushed, and her hand trembled 
 so, that the wine ran over. She wondered where they could have 
 met before, and took the first opportunity of questioning her 
 sister-in-law. The Countess Gyburg told her brother's story, and 
 informed the empress that Rennewart and Alise had loved each 
 other ever since the day when the prince, in the guise of a scullion, 
 saved the princess's life. A few days afterwards the young people 
 were betrothed, and on the very day of their betrothal messengers 
 arrived bringing rich presents from the Emir Terramer to his 
 son. 
 
 William, who was now duke of Aquitaine and count of Orange, 
 governed his people wisely and justly. He preserved them from 
 dangers without and within, and listened to all petitioners of 
 whatever rank with equal kindness. The Lady Gyburg helped 
 him in all ways that a woman might. Together they founded 
 churches and alms-houses, and the blessing of God was with them. 
 When they were both stricken in years, an angel one night 
 appeared to the count in a dream, and, showing him a desert 
 place high up in the mountains, desired him to build there a 
 religious house, where pious monks might live, and give shelter 
 to any travellers who had lost their way, and might even seek out 
 belated wanderers lost in the snow, and save them from a dreadful 
 
 D D
 
 CAROLINGIAN LEGENDS. 
 
 death. Next day the pious hero set out in search of the place the 
 angel had pointed out, and, having found it, built the monastery. 
 He and his wife lived on together for several years after this, doing 
 good to all ; then they withdrew into solitary cells to prepare 
 for eternity. After their death so many signs and wonders were 
 wrought at their graves, that the people believed they must have 
 died saints.
 
 LEGENDS OF KING ARTHUR 
 AND THE HOLY GRAIL. 
 
 I. TITUREL. 
 His CALL TO THE GRAIL. 
 
 A T the time when the bold hero Vespasian was called away 
 ^ * from the siege of Jerusalem, to be made emperor of Rome, 
 a rich man of Cappadocia, named Parille, or as the Romans called 
 him, Berillus, followed in his train. He was brave in war, and wise 
 of counsel in times of peace, so the emperor gave him large estates 
 in Gaul. His virtues were inherited by his sons, grandsons, and 
 later descendants. One of these, Titurisone, married a noble 
 maiden, named Elizabel, but they had no children. The knight
 
 420 ARTHUR AND THE HOLY GRAIL. 
 
 was much distressed at the thought that a noble and chivalrous 
 race should end in him. Once, when he was quite elderly, a sooth- 
 sayer came to the castle, and asked for a night's lodging, which 
 was as usual granted. That evening, when he was sitting alone 
 \vitn his guest, the knight began to discourse of the sorrow of his 
 lite, and the stranger told him that he ought to make a pilgrimage 
 tc the church of the Holy Sepulchre, and lay a crucifix of pure gold 
 on the altar. Titurisone followed the wise man's advice, and he 
 and his wife had the pleasure of having a son born to them. As 
 the boy grew up, he showed rare gifts of mind, great piety, and 
 unusual strength. He had received the name of Titurel at his 
 baptism, a name that soon became known throughout the length 
 and breadth of the land. 
 
 When the boy grew to man's estate, he went with his father to 
 fight against the heathen. He showed such marvellous prowess, 
 that his father began to praise him, and prophesy great things for 
 his future ; but the lad modestly said that he had only done "his 
 duty like others. 
 
 When the victorious army returned home, Titurel was not to 
 be tempted to remain at court, but hastened away to his native 
 place. Arrived there, he did not go first in search of his mother, 
 but made his way to the chapel, dressed in the robes of a penitent. 
 He approached the altar bare-foot, and presented the booty he 
 had brought from the war. Having prayed for God's blessing on 
 all his undertakings, he rose from his knees, and, going into the 
 castle, hastened to embrace his mother. 
 
 Titurel sometimes took part in the crusade against the Saracens. 
 His gallant deeds were so numerous that they became noised 
 abroad, and his name was held in honour by Christians and infidels 
 alike. 
 
 Many years passed on. Titurisone and his wife both died, 
 leaving a large inheritance to their only son. The change in his
 
 TITUREL. 4 :r 
 
 outward fortunes made no difference in Titurel he remained as 
 humble in the sight of God and man as before ; he had more 
 to give away to the poor and needy, that was the only use of 
 wealth in his eyes. 
 
 One beautiful spring morning he went out to walk in the wood. 
 Coming to a soft mossy bank, he seated himself, and looked about 
 him. Flowers filled the air with their perfume, birds were singing 
 in the trees, and a gentle breeze whispered among the fresh green 
 leaves. He felt full of peace and joy ; it almost seemed to him 
 as though God were speaking to him in the songs of the birds, 
 the rustle of the foliage, and the murmur of the brook. The sky 
 was blue, one soft fleecy cloud alone was visible. He was sur- 
 prised to see it coming as if towards him with extraordinary speed, 
 and yet it was not driven by the wind. At last it sank to the 
 earth before him, and out of it came an angel, who spoke to 
 the hero in a deep melodious voice like the sound of the organ 
 in church. 
 
 " Hail, chosen hero of the Most High ! The Lord hath called 
 thee to guard the holy Grail on His mountain, Montsalvatch. 
 Set thy house in order, and obey the voice of God." 
 
 The angel stepped back, the cloud closed round him like a silver 
 veil, and he floated away to heaven. 
 
 Titurel went home in a state of ecstasy. He divided his wealth 
 among his servants and those who had most need of it, after which 
 he returned fully armed to the place where the angel had appeared 
 to him. Once more he saw the cloud in the sky, and this time 
 it was fringed with the gold of sunshine. It went before him, 
 showing him the way to the goal of his pilgrimage. He went on 
 and on through vast solitudes. At length he came to a deep dark 
 wood, and after that to a mountain, the sides of which seemed too 
 steep to climb. But the cloud preceded him, and he followed, 
 dragging himself up precipitous rocks, past great abysses that
 
 422 ARTHUR AND THE HOLY GRAIL, 
 
 made him dizzy to look into, and through thickets of thorn. 
 Often he felt so weary he could hardly drag one foot after the 
 other, and was tempted to despair of ever reaching the top. But 
 a voice seemed to speak to him encouragingly at such moments 
 of weakness, and he found strength to struggle on. At length he 
 reached the top of the mountain. He saw a bright light before 
 him, it was the Sangreal borne in the air by invisible hands. 
 Beneath it knelt a number of knights in shining armour. Seeing 
 him, they rose to their feet, and cried, 
 
 " Hail to thee, chosen hero, called to be guardian of the holy 
 Grail ! " 
 
 He did not answer, his eyes were fixed on the sacred vessel, 
 which was like a cup of emerald-coloured jasper, encircled by 
 a stand of chased gold. Lost in the wondrous sight, he prayed 
 for strength to guard what was put under his charge. 
 
 And in good truth Titurel was worthy of his high calling. He, 
 with the help of the other knights under his command, prevented 
 any infidels from approaching the holy mountain. Many years 
 passed away, and the vessel never came down to earth. So 
 Titurel determined to build a castle and temple on the mountain- 
 top worthy to hold and protect the Sangreal. 
 
 BUILDING OF THE TEMPLE. 
 
 When the grass, ferns, and stones were cleared away, it was 
 discovered that the rock, or core of the mountain, was one entire 
 onyx of enormous size. This was flattened into a flooring, and 
 polished with great care ; and upon it the castle was built. Now 
 came the more important task of rearing the temple, but they were 
 in doubt as to the plan and shape that would be most fitting. 
 
 One morning when Titurel awoke, he prayed that he might be 
 enlightened to know how to build the church, and when he went
 
 T1TUREL. 423 
 
 out he saw the entire ground-plan clearly marked out on the 
 rock-foundation, and all the miraculous materials that were wanted, 
 ready piled up in huge stacks. So the knights worked hard all 
 day long, and the invisible powers worked all night. It was 
 wonderful how quickly the walls rose, and the church was finished. 
 It was circular in form, and had seventy-two octagon choirs, every 
 two of which supported a belfry. In the midst rose a tower with 
 many windows, and openings with pointed arches. The topmost 
 point of the tower was a ruby, out of which rose a cross of clear 
 crystal surmounted by a golden eagle with outstretched wings. 
 Within the building, sculptured vines, roses, and lilies twined about 
 the pillars, forming bowers, on whose branches birds seemed to 
 flutter as if alive. At every intersection of the arches was a glow- 
 ing carbuncle that turned night into day ; and the vaulted roof 
 was of blue sapphire, in which a miracle of art was to be seen. The 
 sun, moon, and stars placed there by the builders, moved in the 
 same order as the real luminaries in the heavens. 
 
 In the wide inner space of the great temple a second and 
 smaller sanctuary was built, resembling the first, but far more 
 beautiful. This was the place intended for the Sangreal, should 
 it come down to earth. 
 
 And now the work was finished. The hour of consecration had 
 come. The bells rang. The priests began to chant the hymn, 
 and a chorus of angels joined in : " Glory to God on high, peace 
 on earth, good will to men." At the same moment a sweet per- 
 fume filled the air, the sacred vessel descended and floated over 
 the altar in the inner sanctuary. A deep and solemn silence 
 reigned in the mighty building. Then the invisible choir began 
 to sing : " The glory of the Lord has arisen in Zion ! Praise Him, 
 ye faithful, and make known His holy name." The priest spoke 
 the blessing, and the consecration was complete. Titurel did not 
 move for some time after the others had withdrawn. He was lost
 
 424 ARTHUR AND THE HOLY GRAIL. 
 
 in wonder and joy. He did not touch the vessel, for he had not 
 been told to do so. 
 
 The building had taken thirty years to complete. After the 
 consecration, a dove appeared every Good Friday carrying a wafer 
 from the holy sacrament in its bill. It dropped the wafer into the 
 sacred vessel, thereby keeping up the miraculous powers of the 
 Grail, which provided food for the knights who guarded it, and 
 healed any wounds they might sustain at the hands of the un- 
 believers who sometimes attacked them. 
 
 His MARRIAGE AND DESCENDANTS. 
 
 Time passed on, and Titurel was four hundred years old, but no 
 one looking at him would have thought him more than forty. 
 One evening when he entered the sanctuary and turned his eyes 
 upon the Grail, he saw that it had a message for him. Drawing 
 near, that he might read the letters of fire in which all such 
 commands were issued, he read that he was to take a wife, so that 
 the chosen race might not die out of the land. He called the 
 knights of the Temple. They saw what was written, and said 
 that he must obey. With one accord, all fixed upon the Lady 
 Richoude, daughter of a Spanish chief, as the most worthy 
 maiden to be his wife. The wooing was done by solemn em- 
 bassage, and neither father nor daughter was deaf to the call. 
 The marriage took place, and on the same day Titurel received 
 the honour of knighthood, which he had always refused before out 
 of humility. Two children were born to Sir Titurel and his wife ; 
 a son named Frimutel, and a daughter called Richoude after 
 her mother. Twenty years later Titurel lost his wife, and was 
 once more alone in the world, except for his children, to whom 
 he was devoted. 
 
 Richoude, who was very lovely, married a king whose realm 
 lay far away from her old home ; and Frimutel married Clarissa,
 
 TITUREL. 425 
 
 daughter of the king of Granada ; by her he had five children. 
 Two of them were sons, Amfortas and Trevrezent by name, and 
 three daughters, Herzeleide, Joisiane, and Repanse. 
 
 Titurel was no longer able to bear the weight of his armour : 
 he passed his time either in church or with his grandchildren. 
 One day when he went, as he often did, to gaze at the holy 
 Grail, he saw written in letters of fire on the rim of the vessel, 
 " Frimutel shall be king." The old man's heart was full of joy. 
 He called his son, his grandchildren, and all the young heroes who 
 served the Sangreal, around him, and told them what had been 
 ordained. He then desired his granddaughter Joisiane to place 
 the floating Grail upon the altar ; for she, as a pure virgin, could 
 touch it. She obeyed, and then the old man put the crown on 
 his son's head, and blessed him and the assembled brotherhood. 
 
 Titurel lived on, and saw many joyful and many sorrowful 
 things happen. Joisiane married King Kiot of Catalonia, and 
 died at the birth of her babe Sigune, 
 
 Who fairer was than flowers in lusty May, 
 That ope their dewy cups to dawning day. 
 
 Her sister Herzeleide took the child, and brought it up with 
 Tchionatulander, the orphan son of a friend ; but after a time she 
 lost her husband, and had to fly with her son Percival, leaving 
 Sigune and Tchionatulander under the care of friends. But worse 
 things than this were yet to happen. Frimutel thought his life at 
 Montsalvatch confined and dull, he wearied of it, and went out 
 to seek excitement in the world. He died of a lance-wound 
 far away in the land of the unbelievers. His son Amfortas was 
 crowned his successor, in obedience to the fiery letters that ap- 
 peared on the holy vessel ; but he had inherited the wild blood 
 and roving spirit of his father ; and instead of fulfilling the office 
 to which he was appointed, he went out into the world in search of
 
 ARTHUR AND THE HOLY GRAIL. 
 
 love and fame. At length he was brought back to his grand- 
 father, sick unto death of a wound caused by a poisoned spear. 
 
 One day, while Sir Titurel knelt in the sanctuary praying for 
 his grandson, whose life of pain was prolonged by the holy 
 Grail appearing to him once in every seven days, he suddenly 
 saw these words in letters of fire : 
 
 " Murmur not, good old man ; endure the load of others' sins. 
 A chosen hero shall one day climb the holy mount. If he ask, 
 before nightfall, of the beginning and end of this tale of woe, then 
 shall the spell be broken, and Amfortas cured, but the new-comer 
 shall be king in his stead." 
 
 Again and again Titurel read the mysterious words, and asked 
 when the hero would come. He received no answer ; but the 
 words, " murmur not ; endure," shone brighter than before, and 
 he bowed his head, leaving the future confidently to God.
 
 II. PERCIVAL. 
 JOURNEY TO ARTHUR'S COURT. 
 
 TT7HE-N Queen Herzeleide 
 * * had to fly from home 
 with her little son on the death 
 of her husband, she retired to a 
 small house she possessed in an out-of-the-way district, and 
 devoted herself to the education of her boy. She never spoke to 
 him of knightly deeds, for she feared lest, when he was grown 
 
 4*7
 
 428 ARTHUR AND THE HOLY GRAIL. 
 
 up, he should leave her to seek adventures, and should die in 
 some tournament or feud. Notwithstanding this, young Percival 
 grew up a bold, strong youth, fearless of all danger. 
 
 One day, as he was coming home from hunting, he met some 
 knights riding through the wood arrayed in full armour. One of 
 them asked him a question, which Percival answered at random. 
 Then, going up to the knight, he asked what strange garments 
 those were that he and his companions wore, and why they had 
 golden spurs. The knight was amused, and answered the lad's 
 questions very kindly, adding, " If you want to know more of 
 knights and knighthood, you must go to King Arthur's court, 
 and there, if you are worthy, you may perchance be made a 
 knight yourself." 
 
 Percival could not forget what he had heard and seen. He 
 cared no more for hunting, and spent his days and nights in 
 dreaming of swords, knighthood, and battle. Herzeleide asked 
 her son what ailed him, and when she learnt the cause of his 
 sorrow, her heart was filled with terror lest, inheriting his father's 
 heroic spirit, Percival might meet with his father's fate. At 
 length she gave way to the lad's entreaties, and let him go, but 
 with a breaking heart. 
 
 Percival felt the parting with his mother very much ; but 
 youth and hope were strong in his heart, and thoughts of the 
 joy of meeting again soon thrust the sorrow of parting into the 
 background. 
 
 Lost in such reflections, he came to a meadow in which some 
 tents were pitched. In one of these he saw a couch on which 
 a beautiful woman lay asleep. She was richly dressed ; her girdle 
 blazed with precious stones, as did also the ornaments on her 
 arms, neck, and fingers. He thought, as he plucked a flower, 
 so he might also steal a kiss from the rosy lips of the sleeping 
 beauty ; but, as he did so, she awoke, and was very angry.
 
 .PERCIVAL. 429 
 
 " Don't be angry," he said, throwing himself at her feet. " I 
 have often kissed my mother when I have caught her asleep, 
 and you are more beautiful than my mother." 
 
 The lady gazed at him in astonishment, and listened to his 
 boyish confidences about going to Arthur's court, being made 
 a knight, and doing great deeds thereafter. Suddenly a horn 
 sounded at no great distance. 
 
 " That is my husband," cried the lady ; " quick, boy, get away 
 as fast as you can, or we are both undone." 
 
 " Oh, I am not afraid," he said. " Look at my quiver ; it is 
 quite full ; I could defend you as well as myself. Let me have 
 one of your bracelets as a sign that you are not angry with me." 
 
 As he spoke, he slipped the bracelet off her arm, left the tent, 
 mounted his horse, and rode away. 
 
 Shortly after this Lord Orilus, the lady's husband, appeared, 
 and with him many knights. When he heard from her what 
 had happened, he fell into a passion, and swore that he would 
 hang the " impudent varlet " if he could catch him. But though 
 he set out at once in pursuit, he could see nothing of the youth. 
 
 Meanwhile Percival continued his journey. That night he 
 slept in the forest, and went on his way next morning at an easy 
 pace. As he was passing under a rock, he saw a maiden sitting 
 by a spring that gushed out of it. She wept bitterly as she 
 bent over a dead man, whose head lay in her lap. Percival 
 spoke to her, and tried to comfort her by saying that he would 
 avenge the death of the murdered man, for murdered he was 
 
 o 
 
 sure he was. He then told her his name, and she said that she 
 was his cousin Sigune, and that the dead man was her old play- 
 fellow Tchionatulander, who had met his end in trying to gratify 
 a silly wish of hers a wish she had no sooner given utterance 
 to than she repented. She had lost a dog, and had wanted to 
 have it again. That was the cause of all her sorrow.
 
 430 ARTHUR AND THE HOLY GRAIL. 
 
 " He was a real hero," she continued, " and one of the knights 
 of King Arthur's Round Table. Your mother made him governor 
 of her wasted lands. He conquered the robber hosts, slevy their 
 leader, wild Lahelin, and flung his ally, Orilus, Lord of Cumber- 
 land, from his horse, so that he only escaped by the help of his 
 troopers who bore him off the field. When he promised to get me 
 back the dog, he challenged Orilus to single combat before King 
 Arthur and his knights, the prize of victory to be the setter that 
 Lord Orilus had caught, and kept, when it ran away from me. 
 The challenge was accepted, but the time of meeting was put off 
 for a while, because Orilus was suffering from an unhealed wound. 
 Meanwhile the Lady Jeschute, fearing for the life of her husband, 
 sent me back the dog. Tchionatulander and I regarded the 
 matter as settled, so we set out together to go to the sanctuary 
 of the Holy Grail, where we were to be married. As ill luck 
 would have it, we met Orilus and his wife, and in spite of all the 
 entreaties of Jeschute and myself, the two knights quarrelled and 
 fought. Orilus recovered from the stunning fall ; but my dear 
 love oh that I had died instead ! It was my fault, all my 
 fault." 
 
 " Be comforted, cousin," said Percival, " I will go to King 
 Arthur, I will tell him your story, and ask him to make me a 
 knight, and to take care of you. Then I will go and seek out 
 Orilus, and avenge your wrongs." 
 
 He then took leave of Sigune, and went on his way. Coming 
 to a broad river he questioned the ferryman as to where he should 
 find King Arthur's court. The man answered that he must go to 
 Nantes, a good bit on the other side of the river ; so Percival gave 
 him the gold bracelet he had taken from the lady's arm, and 
 asked him to set him across. This the man did, and afterwards 
 put him in the right road. 
 
 Arrived at Nantes, the first person he met was a red-haired
 
 PERCIVAL. 
 
 43 1 
 
 knight clad in red armour, and riding a sorrel steed. Percival 
 spoke to him courteously, and asked for the loan of his horse and 
 armour, that he might go in seemly fashion to the king and ask 
 for knighthood at his hands. But the stranger laughed, and said, 
 " A rustic youth in a fool's cap were the very thing to carry my 
 message of defiance." 
 
 " Here," he continued, " take this cup to the king as a token, 
 tell him that I challenge him and all his Round Table to deadly 
 combat. You see that I cannot lend you my horse and armour, as 
 I need them myself, but after the battle you will be able to pick 
 and choose amongst the armour and horses of the slain." 
 
 Indignant at the knight's refusal, Percival rode on in silence. 
 As he went down the principal street of the royal borough, the 
 people all laughed at his appearance, the very boys pointed and 
 hooted at him, and in good truth he looked ridiculous enough. 
 The ribbons of his striped cap fluttered in the breeze, his many- 
 coloured jacket and leather hose were very shabby, and his sorry 
 nag limped with fatigue. At length a squire named Ivvanet took 
 his part, chased away the boys, and chid them for their discourtesy 
 to a stranger. The young hero thanked the man, and begged 
 him to take him to King Arthur to whom he was the bearer of 
 a message. Iwanet at once complied with Percival's request, and 
 took him to the palace. On entering the open hall where the king 
 was seated with his knights at the celebrated Round Table, the 
 young man turned to his companion in amazement, saying : 
 
 " Are there so many Arthurs ? My mother only told me of 
 one." 
 
 The squire smiled as he replied that there was indeed only one 
 Arthur, and that he was the knight whose beard was beginning to 
 turn grey, and who wore the crown on his head. 
 
 Percival now walked up the hall, and bowing to the king 
 repeated the message of the red knight, adding that he wished the
 
 432 ARTHUR AND THE HOLY GRAIL. 
 
 king would use his power and give him the red knight's horse and 
 armour, for he liked them well. 
 
 " The boy would have the bear-skin before the hunter has slain 
 the bear," said Arthur laughing ; " but," he added, " I will give you 
 the things you ask for, if you can get possession of them." 
 
 " Thank you, sire," answered Percival, " I shall need your gift 
 if I am to become a knight ; " so saying, he bowed, and took his 
 leave. 
 
 When he returned to the red knight, he told him all that had 
 occurred, and asked him for the horse and armour the king had 
 given him. The knight upon this rapped him so shrewdly on the 
 head with the butt end of his lance, that he fell from his nag. 
 He soon recovered, however, and attacked the knight so suddenly 
 with his spear that he killed him on the spot. He then tried to 
 take off his armour, but in vain. Fortunately Iwanet happened to 
 pass that way, and seeing the lad's difficulty offered to help him. 
 Percival was soon arrayed in the full suit of armour, which he in- 
 sisted on wearing above his other clothes as they had been made 
 by his mother. This done, he thanked the squire for his timely 
 assistance, mounted the red knight's charger, and rode away, he 
 knew not whither. 
 
 After he had ridden a long way he came to the castle of 
 Gurnemann, an elderly man and a brave warrior. The old chief 
 asked the youth to come in and spend the night under his roof, 
 and Percival accepted the invitation with pleasure. He was so 
 taken with his host's kindly manner, that before the evening was 
 over he felt drawn to tell him of his mother and all his adventures 
 since he had left her. Gurnemann persuaded the lad to remain 
 with him for some time, and began to teach him how to become a 
 true knight and hero. 
 
 " Do not always have your mother's name upon your lips," he 
 would say, " for it sounds childish. Preserve her teaching faith-
 
 PERCIVAL. 433 
 
 fully in your heart, and you will please her more than by talking 
 of her continually. A knight should be modest, love one maiden 
 only, not play at love with many women. He should help the 
 oppressed, and show kindness to all. When he has conquered an 
 enemy he should show mercy ; and when he is conquered he 
 should not beg for life. To face death boldly is a hero's glory, 
 and such death is better than a dishonoured life." 
 
 With these and other words of wisdom the old man strove to 
 fit the youth for knighthood. At the same time he gave him 
 fitting clothes, telling him it was no disrespect to his mother to 
 cease to wear the curious garments with which she had provided 
 him. Time passed on, and Percival proved such an apt pupil 
 that Gurnemann grew as proud of him as if he had been his 
 own son. 
 
 At last he told the youth that the time had come for him to go 
 out into the world and draw his sword in defence of innocence 
 and right, for Queen Konduiramur was hard pressed in her capital, 
 Belripar, by the wild chief Klamide and his seneschal Kingram. 
 Percival was nothing loth, and at once prepared to go and help 
 the queen. 
 
 Arrived at Belripar, which stood on the sea at the mouth of a 
 great river, he rowed himself across the stream, his good horse 
 swimming at his side. Though artillery frowned from the castle 
 walls, he gained admittance on pronouncing the password given 
 him by Gurnemann, and was conducted into the queen's presence. 
 She received him kindly, and he at once offered her his services. 
 She entreated him to have nothing to do with so unlucky a cause 
 as hers ; but he was not to be persuaded to abandon her. It 
 almost seemed as though he had brought good fortune in his train, 
 for a few days later some ships laden with provisions managed to 
 run the blockade, and when Percival made a sally on the enemy 
 soon after, he unhorsed and took prisoner the seneschal Kingram, 
 
 E E
 
 434 ARTHUR AND THE HOLY GRAIL. 
 
 whom he set free on condition that he at once set out to tell King 
 Arthur of his defeat at the hands of the red knight. The same 
 fate befel Klamide himself not long afterwards. 
 
 Peace was now restored. The people were all devoted to the 
 young hero who had freed them from Klamide, and were rejoiced 
 to hear that he was about to marry the queen. 
 
 The wedding took place with great pomp and ceremony. In 
 the midst of all his happiness Percival had only one sorrow, and 
 that was that his mother was not there to share his joy. He told 
 Konduiramur what he felt, and she agreed with him that he ought 
 to go and fetch his mother to Belripar. So Percival mounted 
 his good horse and rode away. 
 
 QUEST OF THE GRAIL. 
 
 He knew in which direction to go to his mother, but not the 
 roads that led to her house ; so it was not surprising that he lost 
 his way several times. One day he came to a great lake which he 
 had never seen before. He saw a man seated in a boat, fishing. 
 The man was richly dressed, but pale and sad. Percival asked 
 if he could get food and shelter anywhere about for himself and 
 his tired horse, and was told that if he went straight on, and did 
 not lose his way, he would come to a castle, where he would be 
 kindly received. He started in the direction indicated by the 
 fisherman, and reached the castle at nightfall, after a long and 
 toilsome search. There he met with so much kindness and con- 
 sideration, garments even being provided for him " by Queen 
 Repanse's orders," that he was filled with amazement. When 
 freshly attired he was taken into the hall, which was brilliantly 
 lighted. Four hundred knights were seated on softly-cushioned 
 seats at small tables, each of which was laid for four. They all 
 sat grave and silent, as though in expectation. When Percival
 
 PERCIVAL. 435 
 
 entered, they rose and bowed, and a ray of joy passed over each 
 woeful countenance. 
 
 The master of the house, who much resembled the fisherman 
 Percival had seen on the lake, sat in an arm-chair near the fire, 
 wrapped in sables, and was apparently suffering from some 
 wasting disease. 
 
 The deep silence that reigned in the hall was at length broken 
 by the host, who invited Percival, in a low, weak voice, to sit 
 down beside him, telling him that he had been long expected, 
 and, at the same time, giving him a sword of exquisite workman- 
 ship. The young knight was filled with astonishment. A servant 
 now entered carrying the head of a lance stained with blood, 
 with which he walked round the room in silence. Percival would 
 much have liked to ask the meaning of this strange ceremony 
 and also how his arrival had come to be expected, but he 
 feared lest he should be deemed unwarrantably curious. While 
 thus thinking, the door opened again, and a number of beautiful 
 blue-eyed maidens came in, two and two, with a velvet cushion 
 embroidered with pearls, an ebony stand, and various other 
 articles. Last of all came Queen Repanse bearing a costly vessel, 
 whose radiance was more than the human eye could steadfastly 
 gaze upon. 
 
 "The holy Grail," Percival heard whispered by one voice 
 after another. He longed to question some one ; but felt too 
 much awed by the strangeness and solemnity of all he saw. 
 
 The maidens withdrew, and the squires and pages of the 
 knights came forward. Then from the shining vessel streamed an 
 endless supply of the costliest dishes and wines, which they set 
 before their masters. The lord of the castle, however, only ate 
 of one dish, and but a small quantity of that. Percival glanced 
 round the great hall. What could this strange stillness and sad- 
 ness mean ?
 
 436 ARTHUR AND THE HOLY GRAIL. 
 
 When the meal was at an end, the lord of the castle dragged 
 himself to his feet, leaning on two servants. He looked eagerly 
 at his guest, and then retired with a deep sigh. Servants now 
 came to conduct Percival to his sleeping apartment. Before 
 leaving the hall they opened the door of a room in which a 
 venerable old man slept on a low couch. His still handsome face 
 was framed in a coronal of white curls. His sleep was uneasy, 
 and his lips quivered as though he were trying to speak. The 
 servants closed the door again, and led Percival to his chamber. 
 
 When he entered the room he looked about him, and at once 
 became aware of a picture embroidered on the silken tapestry, 
 that arrested his attention. It was the picture of a battle, in 
 which the most prominent figure, a knight strangely like the lord 
 of the castle in appearance, was sinking to the ground, wounded 
 by a spear of the same kind as the broken weapon that had been 
 carried round the hall. Much as he desired to know the meaning 
 of this, he determined to ask no questions till the following 
 morning, though the servants told him that his coming had been 
 long expected, and deliverance was looked for at his hands ; and 
 they went away, sighing deeply. 
 
 His sleep was disturbed by bad dreams, and he awoke next 
 morning unrefreshed. He found his own clothes and armour 
 beside his bed ; but no one came to help him. He got up and 
 dressed. All the doors in the castle were locked except those 
 that led out to the ramparts, where his horse stood saddled and 
 bridled at the drawbridge. No sooner had he crossed the bridge 
 than it was drawn up behind him, and a voice called out from 
 the battlements : 
 
 " Accursed of God, thou that wast chosen to do a great work, 
 and hast not done it. Go, and return no more. Walk thy evil 
 way till it leads thee down to hell." 
 
 The hero turned, and looked back at the castle : a face with
 
 PERCIVAL. 437 
 
 a fiendish grin glared at him for a moment over the battlements, 
 and then disappeared. Percival put spurs to his horse, and rode 
 away. He journeyed all day long through bleak, inhospitable 
 country, and at nightfall reached a solitary cell. He dismounted, 
 hobbled his horse, and entered the quiet room. A woman 
 crouched on the floor praying. She wore a penitent's grey robe, 
 and her long hair lay neglected about her face and neck. Startled 
 by his entrance, she rose slowly to her feet and looked at him. 
 
 " What, you ? " she said, " Herzeleide's wretched son ! What 
 do you want of me ? Tchionatulander's body is embalmed, and 
 I have laid it in this chest. Here I must kneel and pray, and do 
 penance till the All-Merciful sets me free." 
 
 " Good heavens ! " said the hero to himself, " it is Sigune ; but 
 how changed ! " 
 
 The unhappy woman stared at him for some time in silence, 
 then she went on, " Wretched man, do you not know that you are 
 lost for ever. You were permitted to look upon the holy Grail, 
 yet, of your own will you put aside the opportunity of freeing 
 the poor sufferer from his pain. Do not longer pollute this cell 
 with your unhallowed presence. Go, flee, till the curse overtake 
 you." 
 
 She stood before him like an angry prophetess. A feeling of 
 dread, such as he had never known before, took possession of him, 
 and he staggered out of her presence and into the night. He 
 walked on and on, leading his horse, till at length he sank on 
 the ground, and found relief from his troubles in a sound and 
 refreshing sleep. 
 
 The sun was high in the heavens when he awoke. His faithful 
 horse was grazing near him, so he mounted and rode on without 
 knowing or caring where he went. As evening came on, a farmei 
 met him, and offered him a night's lodging, which he thankfully 
 accepted. Next day, when he resumed his journey, he was able
 
 438 ARTHUR AND THE HOLY GRAIL. 
 
 to think more calmly of all that had occurred ; and came to 
 the conclusion that he ought to return to the castle, and try to 
 expiate the sin he had committed unconsciously. But he could 
 not find the way to it. He asked every one he met to show him 
 the way to the castle where the holy Grail was to be seen : but 
 every one took him for a fool or a madman. As he rode on sadly, 
 he met a knight leading a woman in chains. He at once recog- 
 nised the beautiful lady from whom he had stolen the kiss when 
 she was asleep. She looked at him in silent entreaty, so he 
 felt himself bound to help her. He desired the knight to let the 
 poor woman go, but was answered with a scornful laugh. Upon 
 this the fight began, and raged hotly for some time. At last 
 Percival was victorious. As he was about to slay his fallen and 
 unconscious foe, he remembered Sir Gurnemann's teaching, and 
 refrained. Leaving the man lying on the ground, he turned to 
 the lady, and freed her from her chains. By this time the fallen 
 knight had regained his senses, and Percival let him go after 
 making him swear to treat the lady for the future with all 
 courtesy, and to go to King Arthur's court and say that he had 
 been defeated by the red knight. Before they parted, Percival 
 learned that his opponent was Sir Orilus, and that the lady 
 was his wife, whom, ever since that scene in the tent, he had 
 persecuted out of groundless jealousy. Percival solemnly swore 
 that the meeting had been innocent and accidental, and thus he 
 brought about a sincere reconciliation. 
 
 The hero continued his search for the holy Grail, but all in 
 vain. He followed out the quest in summer's heat and winter's 
 storm, yet never seemed to get nearer the goal. One day he 
 met Sir Gawain, King Arthur's nephew, who asked him to come 
 back to court with him, and see the king, and be made a knight 
 of the Round Table. Percival at once consented, hoping, as he 
 did so, to learn something from Arthur about the holy Grail.
 
 PERCIVAL. 439 
 
 Sir Gawain sent a squire on to announce the red knight's 
 arrival to his uncle, so the king came out to meet them, accom- 
 panied by his heroes and many of the townsfolks, for all were 
 anxious to see the warrior of whose powers so much had been 
 heard and of whom so little was known. On the following day 
 in the open field, Percival received from Arthur's hand the sign 
 of knighthood, and was enrolled a member of the Round Table. 
 
 Whilst the heralds were yet proclaiming the new knight's name 
 and deeds, a woman rode into the royal presence on a miserable 
 nag. She threw back her veil on approaching the king, and 
 displayed a hideous countenance, brown, yellow, and grey, like 
 a withered leaf, and her eyes glowed like burning coals out 
 of their deep sockets. 
 
 " It is the witch Kundrie, the messenger of the Sangreal," 
 cried many voices. 
 
 " It is even she," said the woman, " and she comes to cry woe 
 upon King Arthur and his Round Table if they suffer the 
 man I shall name to remain in their midst. Percival is un- 
 worthy of the honour you have shown him. He was chosen 
 to the highest dignity, and has wickedly neglected to end the 
 pains of the greatest sufferer upon earth. Woe unto him ! Woe 
 unto Arthur and his heroes, if the unhallowed presence of the 
 dishonoured knight be not at once removed." 
 
 Every eye was fixed now on the prophetess, and now upon 
 Sir Percival, who, horror-stricken at what had occurred, slipped 
 quietly out of the assemblage, and, mounting his horse, rode 
 away. Amongst all the heroes of the Round Table there was 
 only one who took his part, and that was Gawain. He said it 
 was a shame to let the flower of chivalry thus dspart on the 
 word of a hawk-nosed witch. Upon this Kundrie got into a 
 great rage, and said : 
 
 " Thou wretch, the curse hath fallen upon thee too. Go, if thou
 
 440 ARTHUR AND THE HOL Y GRAIL. 
 
 dare, and find Klinschor's magic castle, where thy grandmother, 
 "hy mother, and sister, and other noble ladies lie under the spell 
 of enchantment ; free them if thou canst ! " 
 
 Gavvain turned, and went away without a word. He mounted 
 
 his horse, and set out in pursuit of Percival. 
 
 f 
 KLINSCHOR'S ENCHANTED CASTLE. 
 
 Wherever the hero went, he found people who told him they 
 had met the red knight, and again he came up with armed men 
 who had fought with him and whom he had conquered. So the 
 days and weeks passed on, and he still continued to follow 
 Percival until he lost all trace of him in the far East. At 
 last he heard of him again, and seeking him, heard more of his 
 great deeds, but himself he could not find. 
 
 Sir Gawain thought the matter over carefully, and made up 
 his mind that the best way to find Percival, would be to seek 
 out the holy Grail, for which he also sought. 
 
 As he rode along, he met a knight whom Percival had wounded 
 Gawain offered him help ; but Kingrimursel, as the man was 
 called, felt too sore about his defeat to be able to accept any kind- 
 ness, and at once challenged Gavvain to fight him when his wounds 
 were healed. Before the hero had gone much farther he met a 
 woman whose beauty made him forget both the challenge and the 
 holy Grail, and even the red knight. And indeed she was a lady 
 of most marvellous beauty ; her dark hair fell down her neck in 
 curls, and her eyes gleamed like stars, Gawain approached her, 
 and entered into conversation with her. Finding her as wise and 
 witty as she was fair, he told her that he loved her ; but she only 
 laughed at him. He persisted, so she said that if he would find 
 favour in her sight, he must go into the garden hard by, and fetch 
 out her white palfrey. 
 
 He went to the garden gate, and seeing an elderly man standing
 
 PERCIVAL. 
 
 44 1 
 
 within, he asked him where he should find the lady's palfrey. The 
 man shook his head sadly as he answered : 
 
 "Ah my friend, take care. That lady is the Duchess Orgueil- 
 leuse, a witch who has caused the death of many a noble knight, 
 and for whose sake the great King Amfortas faced the danger in 
 which he was wounded by the poisoned spear. Throw off her 
 bonds while yet you can. Look, there is your horse. Mount, and 
 ride away." 
 
 The warning was vain : a mere waste of words. It was as 
 though the haughty duchess had cast a spell over Sir Gawain. 
 He was powerless in her hands. He brought her the palfrey, and 
 not noticing the supercilious way in which she refused all help 
 from him in mounting, followed her with passive obedience through 
 many lands. Many a battle had he to fight for her sweet sake, 
 and every now and then, he could not help seeing that it was she 
 who brought on the fight, when otherwise there would have been 
 none. Yet he was always victorious, and never swerved from his 
 fealty to the lady of his love, who was now pleased to allow him 
 to ride beside her. 
 
 At length they reached a hill-top from which they had an 
 extensive view over a wide valley. Opposite, there was a castle 
 perched on the top of a high rock, and overshadowed by a gigantic 
 pine-tree. Orgueilleuse pointed to it, and said that it belonged 
 to Gramoflans, her mortal enemy, and the man who had slain her 
 lover. " Now," she continued, " if you will bring me a spray of 
 the magic tree yonder, and conquer Gramoflans, who will at once 
 challenge you to single-combat, I will be your your faithful 
 wife." 
 
 The knight would have fought the prince of darkness himself 
 for such a prize, so he set spurs to his horse without a moment's 
 hesitation, and rode away in the direction of the castle. He 
 crossed the valley, swam over a deep moat, and reached the tree.
 
 442 ARTHUR AND THE HOLY GRAIL. 
 
 He pulled a small branch, and tried to weave it into a wreath, 
 but as he did so, he heard a voice call in angry tones : 
 
 " What are you doing there, rash youth ? How dare you touch 
 my magic tree ! I know you well, you are Sir Gawain, a knight 
 of the Round Table. Your father slew my father long ago, and 
 I intend to have vengeance. Meet me, therefore, in eight days 
 time before Klinschor's magic castle. There shall twelve hundred 
 of my warriors see me avenge my father's death. You may bring 
 as many men, or more, if you like." So saying, the speaker 
 turned his back upon the hero and re-entered his castle. 
 
 Gawain brought the wreath to his lady, who received it calmly. 
 She did not waste her words in thanks, but pursued her way in 
 silence ; he accompanying her wherever she chose to go. After a 
 time, they came in sight of two strong castles, one of which, the 
 duchess said, was Logreis, her father's ancestral residence, and the 
 other was Klinschor's magic castle, in which the great magician, 
 Klinschor, kept the noble dames and damsels he had stolen, in 
 close confinement and laden with heavy chains. She herself, she 
 added, had only bought her freedom by giving the monster all 
 the gold she had inherited from her father. Scarcely had she 
 uttered these words, when a grim warrior appeared, and called 
 to Gawain to defend himself. Orgueilleuse withdrew, reminding 
 Gawain of her promise. A few minutes later, having overthrown 
 his adversary, the knight got into the ferry-boat, that had just 
 returned from setting the duchess on the other side of the water, 
 and went across. That night he lodged with the ferryman, who 
 told him all the gossip of the place, and particularly of the great 
 doings of a Valiant knight clad in red armour. 
 
 As darkness came on, Gawain went to the window, and looked 
 out He saw the lighted windows of the magician's castle, at each 
 of which a sad female face appeared. The women were a curious 
 medley. Their ages seemed to range from early childhood to
 
 PERCIVAL. 
 
 445 
 
 grey old age. Sir Gawain turned wrathfully from the sight 
 saying that he would slay the caitiff knight, and set the wretched 
 ladies free ; but the ferryman bade him beware what he did, for 
 Klinschor was not only very strong, but was learned in the black 
 art. Sir Gawain, however, was not to be dissuaded from the 
 emprise. 
 
 He mounted his horse early next morning, and set out for the 
 magic castle, the towers of which rose dark and mysterious-look- 
 ing before him. He was admitted into the court by a gigantic 
 porter, who opened the door for him without making any difficulty. 
 The building seemed totally deserted. Not a household utensil 
 was to be seen anywhere, nor any woman. He wandered from 
 room to room lost in astonishment. At last he came to a room 
 in which a comfortable couch was spread, and as he felt tired, 
 he thought he would lie down and rest for a little ; but, to his 
 intense surprise, the bed retreated as he advanced, and he could 
 not get in. Rendered impatient by this he boldly leapt upon 
 the bed, and next instant was assailed by a perfect storm of 
 arrows, lances, javelins, and heavy stones. From these he guarded 
 himself as well as he could. Had he not been dressed in full 
 armour, he would speedily have been slain, and even as it was 
 he received many a wound. 
 
 The terrible hail of weapons ceased as suddenly as it had begun. 
 A stillness as of death set in. The silence was at length broker, 
 by the heavy tramp of a peasant, who entered the room bearing 
 a great club in his hand, and followed by a lion. The man was 
 of enormous size, and his voice was deep and gruff. 
 
 "Quiet, Leo," he said, "I am going to break that fellow's skull 
 before I throw you his carcase. What ! " he continued in amaze- 
 ment, "still alive, and in full armour! Nay then, go at him your- 
 self, good Leo." So saying, he hastened away as fast as his legs 
 would carry him.
 
 446 ARTHUR AND THE HOLY GRAIL. 
 
 The lion sprang upon the hero, and tried to tear him with its 
 claws ; but almost instantly fell backwards with a howl of mingled 
 rage and pain, for Gawain had cut off one of its fore-paws. The 
 hero now jumped out of bed, and attacked the lion with such 
 hearty good will that he finally killed it ; but the exhaustion 
 caused by the protracted struggle was so great that he sank faint- 
 ing on its carcase. 
 
 When he came to himself again he found a number of women 
 bending over him, and calling him their deliverer. Amongst 
 them were his grandmother, his mother, and his sister Itonie. 
 The spell was broken, and Klinschor had fled. As soon as 
 Gawain had a little recovered from his fatigue, he sent messen- 
 gers to tell Arthur what had happened, and to ask him to come 
 and witness the combat that was to take place between him 
 and Gramoflans. 
 
 Arthur came, and Sir Gawain felt that his cup of happiness 
 was full when he presented the beautiful Lady Orgueilleuse to 
 his uncle. 
 
 At length the wished-for day of combat dawned. A knight 
 arrived dressed in black, and riding on a coal black steed. 
 Gawain rode forward to meet him. Their swords flashed, and 
 they fought as beseemed noble knights in such fair company. 
 The king and the ladies drew nearer that they might the better 
 watch the skill of the combatants. Gradually the black knight 
 had the best of the fight. Gawain's strength to parry the 
 thrusts of his adversary grew less and less. Suddenly a maiden 
 darted from amongst the spectators, and cried, 
 
 "Noble knight, spare my brother Gawain, he is yet weak 
 from the many wounds he received in the magic castle." 
 
 " Gawain ! " echoed the stranger, raising his visor, and dis- 
 playing the well-known features of Sir Percival. 
 
 The meeting of the friends was right joyful, and while they
 
 PERCIVAL. 447 
 
 talked, another knight came forward and asked for reconciliation 
 and friendship with the other two. This was Gramoflans, whc 
 had long been secretly betrothed to the gentle Itonie. But 
 Gawain knew too well what depended on their combat ; he 
 knew that the lady Orgueilleuse was only to be won by defeating 
 this man, whom she hated. He laid his hand upon his sword 
 and would have spoken, but the great king drew near and stopped 
 him. He promised on his word of honour to soften the heart 
 of the proud duchess, and bring her to his nephew. Then send- 
 ing for the lady, he took her apart and talked with her, and his 
 wisdom and nobleness so wrought upon her that her anger left 
 her, and she forgave her foe. 
 
 A few days afterwards two marriages were solemnized at the 
 castle, and Queen Guinevere did all that she could to ensure the 
 general happiness. Sir Percival was at the same time openly 
 received as Knight of the Round Table ; but still he was not 
 happy. He could not forget. He heard as distinctly as of yore 
 the curse that the witch had pronounced against him ; he always 
 saw the face of the sufferer Amfortas, the Sangreal, and further 
 in the background his lovely wife and weeping mother. He 
 could not bear it, so he slipped quietly away without taking leave 
 of the king or any one. The innocent joy of his friends but 
 increased his grief. 
 
 He rode away, a feeling of almost despair possessing him. 
 Should he never find the holy Grail, should he never be able 
 to right the wrong he had done so unconsciously ? 
 
 PERCIVAL, TREVREZENT, AND THE GRAIL. 
 
 Summer and autumn were gone, and the ground was covered 
 with snow, when one evening 'Percival saw the dwelling of a 
 recluse at a little distance. He was half frozen with cold, and 
 so very weary, that when he dismounted he could only drag
 
 448 ARTHUR AND THE HOLY GRAIL. 
 
 himself with difficulty to the door. A tall and stately, but some- 
 what haggard man answered his knock, and told him to come 
 in, while he attended to his horse. 
 
 The hermit gave him food, and spread a bed of moss for him, 
 and while resting there, Percival began to look about him. He 
 saw a sword with a richly carved hilt, inlaid with gold, hanging 
 on the wall, and asked to whom it had belonged. The hermit 
 sighed as he answered that it had belonged to him at the time 
 when he cared for nothing but glory and love, and forgot the 
 holy Grail, the care of which had been committed to him. 
 
 " For, stranger," he continued, " you must know that I am 
 Trevrezent, brother of the unhappy King Amfortas, and that, 
 like him, I devoted my life to the pursuit of fleeting pleasures. 
 When the poisoned lance struck Amfortas, and caused him the 
 unspeakable pain that he still endures, I laid aside my sword 
 and armour and retired to this solitary place that I might do 
 penance for my own sins, and perhaps even redeem my brother. 
 Idle hope ! the sufferer still endures his agony, and he that was 
 chosen by God to save him neglected to do it, and has earned 
 thereby the curse of perdition instead of the glorious place that 
 was prepared for him." 
 
 " I am he who sinned so deeply, yet unconsciously," cried 
 Percival, " but where is the justice or love of a Being that 
 punishes the sin of ignorance with such a curse ? " 
 
 "So you are Percival, the son of my si^er Herzeleide," said 
 Trevrezent " You found the way to the Grail, but not to 
 redemption, for you did not know the All-merciful, who only 
 speaks in those who have received Him into their hearts. 
 Hearken to me, and I will unfold the wondrous goodness and 
 love He has shown to the children of men, that you may learn 
 to endure and to trust." 
 
 Trevrezent then proceeded to tell his nephew of God's dealings
 
 PERCIVAL. 449 
 
 with man from the beginning of time until the coming and death 
 of Christ, and to show him what lessons might be learnt there- 
 from. He afterwards told him that his mother had died of 
 sorrow not long after his departure, and that in dying she had 
 blessed him. He went on to say that Percival must now seek 
 the Sangreal with a pure heart and humble mind, trusting in 
 God, who knew that he had repented, and whose mercy was 
 without end. 
 
 The hero remained for some days with his uncle, who strength- 
 ened and encouraged him to perform the task that lay before 
 him. 
 
 At last, taking leave of Trevrezent, he departed and journeyed 
 for a great distance without seeing any trace of the holy moun- 
 tain. One day he met a knight who insisted on fighting with 
 htm. But suddenly in the middle of the fray Percival's sword 
 broke, and he exclaimed that if he had had his father Gamuret's 
 weapon it would not have played him such a sorry trick. The 
 stranger then questioned him about Gamuret, and after he had 
 heard what Percival had to say, he added : 
 
 "Then you and I are brothers, for when Gamuret was in 
 the East, he married the Moorish queen ; after her death he 
 returned home and wedded your mother. I was brought up 
 by my mother's relations, and am now king of the Moors. 
 My name is Feirefiss." 
 
 So saying he opened his visor and showed Percival a dark, 
 handsome face. 
 
 The brothers embraced with great affection, and Percival 
 said : 
 
 "The sword that Amfortas the sufferer gave me would not 
 drink a brother's blood ; this is the first sign that God has 
 heard my prayers. And but was I blind ? surely I know 
 this place ! There is the lake, the rocks are here yes, there 
 
 F F
 
 450 ARTHUR AND THE HOLY GRAIL. 
 
 is the road to the holy mountain. Come, brother, follow me 
 up the steep path to the heights above, where Divine mercy 
 awaits us." 
 
 Both heroes set out on their toilsome road with a stout heart 
 and a willing mind ; but the way was so full of difficulties that 
 the sun was about to set before they reached the castle. On 
 their arrival they were received like expected guests, and their 
 horses which they had been obliged to lead most of the way 
 were taken to the stable. Percival and Feirefiss were con- 
 ducted straight to the hall, which was brilliantly lighted with 
 wax candles. King Amfortas and his knights were in their 
 usual places. The squire then came in with the bleeding lance, 
 and was followed as before by the maidens bearing the cushion, 
 stand, etc., and lastly, by the fair virgin, Queen Repanse carrying 
 the holy Grail. 
 
 "Merciful Father, and our sweet Lord and Saviour," whispered 
 Sir Percival, " teach me what I must do to bring redemption." 
 
 And it seemed to him that an angel spoke in his ear the one 
 word, " Ask ! " His understanding was now enlightened. He 
 knew what to do. Going up to Amfortas he said : 
 
 "What ails you, great king? and why are the halls that con- 
 tain the holy Grail filled with mourning and woe ? " 
 
 The candles went out, but the Sangreal spread a brighter 
 radiance ' than before throughout the room, and on the side of 
 the sacred vessel appeared in letters of flame, " Amfortas is cured ; 
 Percival shall be king." At the same moment soft and heavenly 
 music filled the air, and invisible angels sang "Glory to God 
 on high, and on earth peace, goodwill to men." 
 
 The hero stood silent, his heart overflowing with joy and 
 thankfulness. An old man now approached him with a firm 
 step and dignified mien. He bore a crown in his hands, and 
 this he set on the head of the chosen king, saying :
 
 PERCIVAL. 451 
 
 " Hail, Percival, all hail ! Long have we waited for your 
 coming. I am your great-grandfather Titurel, and have been 
 called to make over to you the insignia of the highest honour. 
 Now I may depart in peace. The days of my earthly pilgrimage 
 will soon be over, and I shall rest in the Lord." 
 
 Amfortas, who was now well, and free from pain, rose from 
 his seat, and greeting Percival with solemn joy, placed the royal 
 mantle on his shoulders, calling on him to uphold the right, and 
 to punish all injustice and wrong. 
 
 The assembled knights joined in proclaiming the new king, 
 and in swearing to be true to him. 
 
 And the angelic choir sang in jubilant tones : 
 
 " Hail to thee Percival, king of the Grail 1 
 Seemingly lost for ever, 
 Now thou art blest for ever. 
 Hail to thee Percival, king of the Grail ! " 
 
 While Percival stood there, touched and softened by all that 
 had happened, the door opened, and a veiled lady came in, 
 followed by her train. As he looked at her inquiringly, she 
 threw back her veil, and showed the face of Konduiramur, the 
 wife he loved so well, and from whom he had so long been 
 absent. 
 
 It was -strange that the light shed by the holy Grail left one 
 man, and one alone, in darkness. This was Feirefiss, the Moorish 
 king, who seemed to be overshadowed by a dark cloud. He 
 asked, whence came the bright rays that lighted the hall, but did 
 not fall upon him. 
 
 "The sacred vessel," replied old Titurel, "that received the 
 Saviour's blood, only enlightens those who believe. You still live 
 in the darkness of unbelief, in the bonds of the Evil One. Bow 
 your head before Christ the crucified, the Prince of Light and 
 Truth, and your heart also shall be enlightened."
 
 452 ARTHUR AND THE HOLY GRAIL. 
 
 The old man's words had a strong effect upon Feirefiss, who 
 desired, and immediately received, baptism at the hands of 
 Titurel ; and no sooner was the rite concluded than he too could 
 see the Sangreal, and was embraced in the radiance that 
 emanated from it. 
 
 After that, Titurel knelt down before the sacred vessel and 
 prayed. Having done this, he rose from his knees, and, taking 
 solemn leave of all, told them that Sigune was now at rest. 
 Having thus spoken, he passed out of the hall, and was no more 
 seen of them, or of any mortal man. 
 
 Feirefiss remained for some time at the castle on the holy 
 mount. While there, he received instruction in the Christian 
 faith, and when he went away, he took as his wife the fair Queen 
 Repanse, to rule with him over his own land. They had a son 
 named John, who became a great warrior, and who formed a 
 brotherhood, like that of the Templars, of the holy Grail ; a 
 brotherhood, strong, mighty, enduring, and of great renown.
 
 III. 
 
 X" " 
 
 LOHENGRIN. 
 
 (LOIIERANGRIN.) 
 
 THE SILVER BELL. 
 
 NDER the lead of Gawain and 
 others, and lastly of Arthur 
 himself, the knights of the Round Table sought in vain for that 
 which lay so near, yet seemed so far, because their dim vision 
 could not pierce the earthly mists that cloud Heaven from our 
 view. Some said that angels had conveyed the Holy Mountain 
 farther East, where it was guarded by Prester John ; and that only 
 when wild Saracens threatened Christendom, did the Templars 
 appear with the silver dove on shield and helmet, and help to win
 
 454 ARTHUR AND THE HOLY GRAIL. 
 
 the victory; then they vanished, and none knew whence they 
 came or whither they went. 
 
 Meanwhile Percival and Konduiramur lived happily together, 
 serving in the Temple of the Sangreal, and educating their 
 children with the greatest care. Kardeiss, the eldest son, on 
 reaching man's estate, was made ruler over his mother's kingdom 
 of Belripar, and over his patrimony of Waleis and Anjou. The 
 younger son, Lohengrin, remained at home with his parents, 
 while the daughter, Aribadale, took the place of Queen Repanse, 
 and bore the holy Grail from the altar to the hall and back 
 again. It was long since any of the knights of the temple had 
 been called by the sound of the silver bell to go out and fight 
 against the unbelievers, for the Saracens had been completely 
 conquered by the Christians. But one evening, when the knights 
 were all assembled round the king in the royal hall, the silver 
 bell was heard apparently at a great distance, but coming ever 
 nearer and nearer. It sounded like a cry for help. At the 
 same moment the announcement appeared on the sacred vessel in 
 letters of flame, that Lohengrin was the hero chosen by God to 
 defend the rights of the innocent, and that he should be borne 
 whither he should go, in a boat drawn by a white swan with a 
 crown upon its neck. 
 
 " Hail Lohengrin, chosen of the Lord ! " cried the knights of 
 the temple. 
 
 Percival rejoiced greatly, and embraced, and blessed his son, 
 while Konduiramur, her heart filled with joy at Lohengrin's high 
 calling, and also with anxiety about his safety, went to fetch the 
 armour inlaid with gold that Amfortas had once worn, and the 
 sword that had broken during Percival's fight with his brother 
 Feirefiss, but which had since been re-forged and tempered in the 
 sanctuary of the Sangreal. 
 
 A squire now entered the hall, and announced that a boat lay
 
 LOHENGRIN. 455 
 
 in the lake below the mountain, which a swan with a golden crown 
 was towing by a chain of gold. This was the sign that the hour 
 of the young hero's departure was come. The king and queen, 
 and all the knights accompanied him to the shore, where the boat 
 awaited him. As he was about to embark, Percival gave him a 
 golden horn, and said : 
 
 " Blow three times on this horn as a sign that you have arrived 
 amongst the worldly-minded children of men, and again three 
 times to show that you are coming home ; for, if you are ever 
 asked from whence you came, and of what family you are sprung, 
 you must at once be up and away on your return to the holy 
 mountain. This is the indestructible law of the brotherhood of 
 the Sangreal." 
 
 Lohengrin sprang into the boat, and the swan swam away with 
 it, bearing it towards the sea. The air was full of the softest 
 strains of music ; but whether it was the swan that sang, or a 
 choir of angels, Lohengrin could not tell. The music ceased when 
 the boat reached the sea. Its place was taken by the howling of 
 the storm, and the sound of many waters. When night came 
 on, the young hero stretched himself in the bottom of the boat, 
 and fell asleep, undisturbed by wind or waves. 
 
 FAIR-ELSE, THE DUCHESS. 
 
 One day the youthful Duchess of Brabant had gone out to hunt. 
 She was of such surpassing beauty that she was always called 
 Fair-Else. On this occasion she had somehow got separated 
 from her companions, and to tell the truth, she was not at all 
 sorry, for she wanted to have a little quiet time for thought ; so 
 she threw herself on the grass under a great linden tree, and 
 began to ponder over her troubles. She had many lovers, and 
 would gladly have got rid of them all, especially of the Count of 
 Telramund, a mighty warrior and her former guardian, who
 
 456 ARTHUR AND THE HOLY GRAIL. 
 
 persisted in maintaining that her father had promised her to him 
 on his death-bed. The young duchess both hated and feared the 
 count. She had refused point-blank to marry him in spite of his 
 threats, and he now declared that he would make war upon 
 her, and would also bring a heavy charge against her before the 
 newly-elected German King, Heinrich of Saxony. Else thought 
 over all these things with a heavy heart, till she fell asleep, 
 lulled by the humming of the bees and the soft murmur of the 
 wind in the branches overhead. And in her sleep she dreamt. 
 It was a strange dream. She thought that a youthful hero came 
 to her out of the wood, and offering her a little silver bell, told 
 her to ring it if ever she needed assistance, and he would come 
 without delay. It seemed to her that she tried to take the bell 
 but could not, and in the effort she awoke. While puzzling over 
 the meaning of her dream, she became aware of a falcon hovering 
 over her. It wheeled round her head several times, and finally 
 perched on her shoulder. Tied round its neck was a silver bell 
 exactly like the one she had seen in her dream. She gently 
 detached the bell and the falcon flew away. 
 
 Soon after she returned home, a messenger arrived to summon 
 her before King Heinrich's judgment-seat at Cologne on the 
 Rhine. She obeyed the summons with a heart at ease, for she 
 felt herself in the keeping of a Higher Power, and trusted in the 
 hope her dream held out to her. 
 
 King Heinrich was a man who both loved and exercised 
 justice ; but the empire sorely needed stout defenders, hordes 
 of wild Hungarians ravaged the south every year, and Count 
 Telramund was a mighty warrior whose assistance was of great 
 value to him, so he hoped that his claims would be successfully 
 proved. 
 
 The trial began. Three witnesses were brought to prove that 
 the duchess loved one of her vassals, and for a lady in her position
 
 LOHENGRIN'S ARRIVAL. 
 
 458
 
 LOHENGRIN. 45? 
 
 to marry a vassal was strictly forbidden by the laws of the realm. 
 Two of the witnesses, however, were declared false and perjured ; 
 and the evidence of one witness was not enough. Then the 
 count stood up, and offered to show the truth of his allegation 
 against the duchess by challenging to single combat any knight 
 that the Lady Else might choose to defend her cause, and might 
 God show the right. 
 
 The challenge could not be refused, but three days' time were 
 allowed her to find a champion. Else looked round the hall to 
 see if any noble warrior would defend her, but all feared the 
 terrible strength and skill of Count Telramund. No one moved ; 
 a silence as of death reigned in the court. Then the maiden 
 remembered the silver bell. She drew it from her bosom and 
 rang it, and the clear sound that it gave forth pealed through 
 the silent hall, and passed on in louder and louder echoes till it 
 was lost in the distant mountains. After that she turned to the 
 king and said that her champion should appear at the appointed 
 time. 
 
 The three days were over. The king was seated on his chair of 
 state overlooking the lists, and thoughtfully gazed over the rushing 
 waters of the Rhine that flowed close to where the combat was to 
 take place. His princes and knights surrounded him, and before 
 him stood Count Telramund in battle array, and the fair duchess, 
 who looked lovelier than ever. 
 
 Three times the count called upon the champion who was to 
 defend the Lady Else to appear. He received no answer. All 
 eyes were fixed upon the king, anxious to hear whether he would 
 now pronounce judgment on the accused. While he yet hesitated, 
 distant music was heard coming over the Rhine. The sounds 
 were passing sweet, such as none had ever heard before. 
 A few moments later a boat was seen approaching the shore, 
 drawn by a white swan with a golden crown upon its neck, and in
 
 460 ARTHUR AND THE HOLY GRAIL. 
 
 the boat a knight clad in rich armour was lying asleep. As the 
 prow touched the land, he awoke, and sounded a golden horn 
 three times. The notes echoed across the river, and were lost in 
 the distance. This was the sign that he accepted the position 
 of champion of innocence. He understood what was required of 
 him, and disembarking, entered the lists where his adversary 
 was awaiting him. 
 
 Before the fight began, the herald came forward, and demanded 
 the stranger's name and condition. 
 
 " My name is Lohengrin," answered the knight, " and I am of 
 royal birth ; more than that you need not know." 
 
 " It is sufficient," replied the king ; " your patent of nobility is 
 written on your forehead." 
 
 The trumpets sounded to battle, and the combat began. Telra- 
 mund's blows fell thick and fast, and the stranger knight at first 
 contented himself with standing on the defensive ; but suddenly 
 changing his tactics, he attacked in his turn, and with one blow he 
 cleft the count's helmet and head. 
 
 "God has decided," said the king, "and His judgments are just. 
 As for you, noble knight, will you accompany us on our expedition 
 against the wild invaders, and command the contingent that the 
 fair duchess will send us from Brabant ?" 
 
 Lohengrin joyfully accepted the proposal, and at the same 
 moment the Lady Else came up and thanked him for the great 
 service he had done her. She had recognised him from the first 
 moment of his appearance as the hero of her dream, and her heart 
 was full of wonder and gratitude. 
 
 On the journey to Brabant, Lohengrin and Else saw a great 
 deal of each other, and the more they saw, the more they liked. 
 In the castle at Antwerp they were publicly betrothed, and a few 
 weeks later, married. 
 
 When the bridal pair left the cathedral after the wedding,
 
 LOHENGRIN. 461 
 
 Lohengrin told his wife that she must never question him as to the 
 place from whence he came, or as to his parentage, for if she did, 
 he must leave her that very hour, and leave her for ever. 
 
 They were startled out of their honeymoon by the king's call to 
 arms. Numerous robber hordes from Hungary had invaded the 
 land, so King Heinrich had determined to collect his armies at 
 Cologne, and march against the foe. The duchess, like most 
 of the other ladies, went with her husband to the royal city. 
 There were many great warriors amongst the princes of the em- 
 pire, and the ladies used to talk of their glorious deeds and those 
 of their ancestors ; but when Else's husband was mentioned, a 
 strange silence would fall upon the company, for rumours ran that 
 Lohengrin was the son of a heathen magician, and that he had 
 gained the victory over Count Telramund by his knowledge of the 
 black art. 
 
 PARTING. 
 
 When Else heard the scandalous tale, she was deeply hurt, for 
 she knew her husband's noble nature. She longed for the power 
 of justifying him, and of making the scandal- mongers eat their 
 words, and reverence her hero. So full did she become of these 
 thoughts that she forgot her husband's warning, and, going to him 
 one day, told him of her trouble, and asked him whose son he was, 
 and whence he came. 
 
 " Dear wife," he said, in quiet sorrow, " I will now tell you, and 
 the king and all the princes, what was hidden and ought to have 
 remained hidden for ever ; but remember, the hour of our parting 
 approaches." 
 
 The hero led his trembling wife before the king and his nobles, 
 who were assembled on the banks of the Rhine. He told them of 
 his great father, Percival, and of his own coming to Cologne in
 
 4 62 ARTHUR AND THE HOLY GRAIL. 
 
 obedience to the Divine order conveyed to him by the holy 
 Grail. 
 
 " I would fain have fought the barbarians with you, noble king," 
 he continued, " but destiny calls me hence. Be of good cheer 
 you will conquer the robbers, rule over the heathen, and win im- 
 perishable glory." 
 
 The hero spoke with the enthusiasm of an inspired seer, as he 
 added a prophecy of the wonders time should unfold regarding 
 the future of the empire. When he ceased, all present heard the 
 same strange wild melody that had attended his coming, but this 
 time sad and slow as a dirge. It came nigher, and then they spied 
 also the crowned swan and the boat 
 
 " Farewell, beloved," said Lohengrin, clasping his weeping wife 
 in his arms. " I had grown to love you, and life in this world 
 of yours, passing well ; but now a higher will than mine tells me 
 to go." 
 
 He tore himself away with tears in his eyes, and entering the 
 boat, which the swan had brought close to the bank, was borne 
 away from their sight. 
 
 She did not long survive the parting from her husband, and 
 when she died, she died in the firm conviction that she was about 
 to join her husband and see the holy Grail. 
 
 Whether she was right or wrong, none of those about her could 
 ever agree.
 
 TRISTRAM TEACHES ISOLDE TO PLAY THE GUITAR. 
 
 IV. TRISTRAM AND ISOLDE. 
 
 TRUSTY RUAL AND HIS FOSTER-SON. 
 
 A FURIOUS battle was raging before the gates of the castle, 
 ** for Rivalin, the lord of the place, was fighting against 
 Morgan, his feudal superior, whose oppression had grown too 
 great to be borne. Within the castle, Blancheflur, Rivalin's wife, 
 was praying fervently for her husband's safety, as she clasped in 
 her weak arms her little son that had been born while the din of 
 battle filled the air.
 
 464 ARTHUR AND THE HOLY GRAIL. 
 
 All day long it lasted. In the evening, Rual, the marshal, hurried 
 back into the castle bleeding, and called to his wife to save what 
 she could, and make ready for instant flight, for King Rivalin had 
 fallen, and the enemy threatened to blockade the castle. Queen 
 Blancheflur heard what he said, and with a piercing cry fell back 
 dead. Rual, seeing that nothing could be done for her, hurried 
 the other women in their preparations, and, heedless of his own 
 untended wounds, made ready to fly with his master's child 
 to a place of safety. 
 
 But while they hastened to obey the marshal, it was already too 
 late the castle was surrounded, and no way of escape remained. 
 They carried the dead queen to another room, and the marshal's 
 wife took the baby for her own. The servants were all faithful, 
 and when Morgan took the aastle soon afterwards, he never guessed 
 that Rivalin had left a living child. The victorious king, who 
 honoured Rual for his fidelity to his late master, made him 
 governor of the kingdom he had just subdued, and then went 
 back to his own place. 
 
 Time passed on, and the foster-parents were delighted with the 
 good qualities their pupil developed. They had had him chris- 
 tened Tristram, or Tristan (Sorrowful), because of the sad 
 circumstances that had attended his birth. Rual himself taught 
 him all knightly exercises, and got him tutors to instruct him in 
 music, languages, and many other accomplishments. 
 
 One day some foreign merchants landed on the coast, and 
 offered their wares for sale. Young Tristram often went down to 
 see them, and questioned them about their country, and about the 
 many strange lands they visited. The boy's unusual beauty and 
 the great knowledge he possessed aroused their cupidity. They 
 determined to steal him, and sell him in some foreign country 
 where he would bring a good price. So once, when he was on 
 board their ship, they quietly raised the anchor, and set sail.
 
 TRISTRAM AND ISOLDE. 
 
 Rual pursued them, but they escaped, owing to the greater swift- 
 ness of their vessel. Another danger, however, threatened to over- 
 whelm them. A terrific storm came on, worse than any they had 
 ever encountered before. They thought it a sign of God's wrath, 
 and were filled with fear and awe. In the perturbation of their 
 souls they swore to set the boy free, and they kept their word. 
 They put him ashore on an unknown coast, feeling assured that 
 with his uncommon gifts he would soon make a livelihood. They 
 were not mistaken. A troup of pilgrims happening to pass 
 that way, Tristram joined them, and accompanied them to the 
 court of King Mark of Cornwall. The king took the boy into 
 his service as page, and grew very fond of him. 
 
 Meantime Rual had sought his foster-son everywhere, and was 
 broken-hearted at not being able to find him, or hear any news 
 of him. He wandered from one country to another, begging his 
 way. At last, footsore and weary, he arrived at King Mark's 
 court. Tristram greeted him with joy, and took him to the king. 
 
 When Mark heard who the supposed beggar was, he exclaimed 
 angrily : 
 
 " What ! Are you the former marshal of the traitor Rivalin, 
 who stole away my sister Blancheflur ? " 
 
 " Sire," replied Rual, " love made him do so. The Lady 
 Blancheflur had been secretly married to my master before she 
 went away from here. She and her husband are both dead, and 
 this youth," laying his hand on Tristram's shoulder, "whom I 
 have brought up from his infancy, and whom I have sought for 
 years, is their only child." 
 
 The king was astonished to hear this tale, and was pleased to 
 find that his favourite page was in reality his nephew. Rual re- 
 mained in Cornwall with his foster-son, for, his wife being dead, he 
 did not care to return home, and again endure Morgan's despotic 
 sway. 
 
 G G
 
 466 ARTHUR AND THE HOLY GRAIL. 
 
 Tristram grew up to be a tall and handsome man, a brave 
 warrior, and a noble knight, as much beloved in peace as in war. 
 But although he lived a full and joyous life, he could not forget his 
 native land, and often mourned over the thought that his fellow- 
 countrymen and rightful subjects groaned under the tyranny of a 
 foreign oppressor. He at last explained his feelings on the subject 
 to his uncle, who gave him men and ships, telling him to go and 
 set his people free, but making him promise to return to Cornwall 
 afterwards, as he had appointed him to succeed him on the, 
 throne. 
 
 The expedition was successful. Morgan was defeated and slain, 
 and Tristram was crowned King of Parmenia. He remained for a 
 year longer in his native land, settling all differences, and arranging 
 matters for the good of his subjects. Having done this, he made 
 Rual governor of the realm, and returned to Cornwall as he had 
 promised. 
 
 ISOLDE (YSEULT, ISOUD). 
 
 On his arrival there, he found every one in great distress. King 
 Gurmun of Ireland had, during his absence, invaded Cornwall, and, 
 with the help of his brother-in-law Morolt, a powerful chief and 
 great warrior, had subdued the country, and forced King Mark to 
 pay him tribute ; and a shameful tribute it was. By the treaty 
 with Gurmun, the Cornish king was bound to send thirty handsome 
 boys of noble birth to Ireland every year, to be sold as slaves for the 
 benefit of the Irish king. On the very day of Tristram's return, 
 Mark was about to deliver the thirty boys into the hands of grim 
 Morolt, Gurmun's messenger, who had come to receive them. 
 
 Tristram was very angry when he heard the news, and told the 
 knights they were cowards ever to have consented to such an 
 arrangement. Then going straight to Morolt, he tore up the 
 treaty, saying it was too inhuman to be kept. Morolt's only
 
 TRISTRAM AND ISOLDE. 467 
 
 answer was to draw his sword and challenge him to single combat. 
 He accepted, and the fight began. After some time, Morolt, 
 having severely wounded Tristram, cried : 
 
 " Yield, Sir Tristram : I feel pity for your youth. Yield, and my 
 sister, Queen Isolde, shall cure your wound, for she alone can heal 
 a wound made by my poisoned blade." 
 
 "Death rather," exclaimed the young knight, and making a 
 mighty effort, he split his adversary's head open from crown to jaw. 
 
 This settled the matter. The Irish returned home sadly, bearing 
 with them the corpse of their hero, while the victor went back to 
 his uncle's palace. His wound was washed and bound, but it would 
 not heal. It continued to fester, in spite of the use of balm, and 
 other herbs of well-known excellence. An experienced doctor 
 who was called in to see the patient, said that only the Irish queen 
 Isolde, and her daughter of the same name, possessed the art of 
 drawing such poison out of a wound. So Tristram determined to 
 go to Ireland in the guise of a minstrel, and seek healing at the 
 hands of the queen, although he knew that Gurmun had sworn to 
 kill him and every Cornishman who had the misfortune to fall into 
 his hands. 
 
 At length he reached the Irish court, and there he played and 
 sang so beautifully that the queen sent for him, and begged him to 
 teach his art to her young daughter Isolde. The minstrel found 
 the princess an attentive pupil ; and while teaching her, and listen- 
 ing to her sweet voice as she sang some plaintive ditty, he would 
 even forget for a time the pain of his wound. And she, in learning 
 from him, learnt to love him with all the strength of herinnocent 
 young heart. 
 
 The days went on, and the pain of his wound grew worse and 
 worse. Then he told the queen of his suffering, and asked her 
 to heal him. This she at once consented to do, and a few weeks 
 later he was cured. He now sang with greater power than before,
 
 4 68 ARTHUR AND THE HOLY GRAIL. 
 
 and the king was so charmed with his music that he would have 
 liked to keep him for ever at his court. But, fearful of discovery, 
 Tristram determined to be gone while yet there was time. 
 
 On his return to Cornwall, he was joyfully received by all except 
 the great lords, who foresaw that King Mark would make him his 
 heir, and they did not wish to have a foreigner to rule over them. 
 They wished the king to marry, and Tristram, finding what was in 
 their minds, himself advised his uncle to choose a wife, saying that 
 the Princess Isolde of Ireland would be the most suitable person 
 for him to wed. After some deliberation, it was agreed that 
 Tristram should go to King Gurmun as his uncle's ambassador, 
 to ask for the hand of the princess. 
 
 Arrived in Ireland, he set out for the royal residence. On the 
 way he heard heralds proclaiming that the king would give his 
 daughter in marriage to whoever slew a dragon that was devasta- 
 ting the land, provided he who rescued the country were of noble 
 birth. 
 
 Tristram sought out the dragon, and, after a long struggle, killed 
 it ; then cutting out the tongue of the creature, as a proof that he 
 had really slain it, he turned to go ; but the pestiferous breath of 
 the monster so overpov/ered him, that he sank backward into the 
 morass out of which the dragon had come. 
 
 Struggle as he might, he could not free himself, for he had sunk 
 up to the shoulders. While in this miserable plight, he saw a 
 horseman approach, cut off the head of the dead monster, and 
 then ride away. 
 
 The horseman was sewer (head waiter) at the palace. He showed 
 the king the dragon's head, and boldly demanded the meed of 
 victory. The queen, who knew the man well, and held him to be 
 a coward, did not believe his tale ; so she went with her train to 
 the dragon's hole, and discovered the real hero in the morass. His 
 bloody sword, and the dragon's tongue showed that it was he who
 
 TRISTRAM AND ISOLDE. 469 
 
 had done the deed. He was quite insensible when he was taken 
 out of the morass and carried to the palace. The princess at once 
 recognised him to be the minstrel who had before visited Ireland, 
 and hoped that his birth was sufficiently good to enable him to 
 win the prize. The queen gave him a sleeping potion, and told 
 him to keep quiet. Then taking her daughter into the next 
 room, she showed her the horrible tongue of the lind-worm, and 
 the sword with which the creature was slain. 
 
 "Look," she said, "the minstrel is the real hero of this adventure, 
 and not that cowardly sewer." 
 
 She left the room, adding that the truth would soon be known. 
 Isolde took up the sword and examined it She saw that a bit of 
 the blade was broken off. 
 
 "Merciful heaven," she cried, "surely he cannot be the " 
 
 She ceased, and took from a drawer the splinter of steel she had 
 drawn out of the wound on her uncle's head. She fitted the 
 splinter to the blade, and saw that it was as she had feared. 
 
 "Ha," she went on, trembling with anger, "he is the murderer of 
 my uncle Morolt. He must die, die by my hand, and be slain 
 with his own weapon." 
 
 Seizing the sword in a firmer grip, she went into the room where 
 Tristram was sleeping, and swung the sword over his head ; but 
 as she did so, he smiled as in a happy dream, and she could not 
 do the deed. Then it seemed to her that she saw her uncle 
 looking at her reproachfully, and she nerved her heart to strike, 
 but at that moment her hand was seized by her mother, who had 
 entered unnoticed. 
 
 " Wretched child," she cried, " what are you doing ? Are you 
 mad ? " 
 
 Isolde told the queen that this was Tristram, her uncle's 
 murderer ; and the mother answered : 
 
 " I loved my brother dearly, but I cannot revenge him, for this
 
 470 ARTHUR AND THE HOLY GRAIL. 
 
 man has saved our people from the dragon, and a nation is worth 
 more than a single man, however dear to our hearts." 
 
 Isolde confessed that her mother was right, and let her resent- 
 ment die. 
 
 When Tristram had recovered, he did not show the dragon's 
 tongue in proof of what he had done, but challenged the sewer 
 to trial by combat. Now the man had often fought before, but 
 when he saw Tristram come forth to meet him in the lists, his 
 heart died within him, and he confessed his guilt. King Gurmun 
 thereupon ordered the recreant knight's shield to be broken, and 
 sent him forth a banished man. 
 
 Tristram then fetched the dragon's tongue, and was at once 
 proclaimed victor amid the acclamation of the people. 
 
 Great was the astonishment of all, when Tristram, instead of 
 claiming the princess' hand, proceeded to woo her for his uncle 
 King Mark, of Cornwall. Gurmun had such a dislike to King 
 Mark that he would have refused him as a son-in-law point-blank, 
 if Queen Isolde had not taken part in the debate, and shown the 
 wisdom of giving way. So Tristram received a gracious answer 
 from the king, and was content. No one thought of asking the 
 maiden if she were willing to marry the old king of Cornwall. 
 She was a princess, and princesses were never allowed a choice, 
 when reasons of State demanded that they should marry some 
 particular person. 
 
 THE LOVE-POTION. 
 
 The princess went on board Tristram's vessel, which was about 
 to sail for Cornwall. Her dresses and jewels were there also, and 
 as soon as her old nurse and faithful companion came down to the 
 ship, they were to set sail. Brangane was closeted with the queen, 
 who wished to say a few last words in private. 
 
 " Look, Brangane," said the mother, " take this goblet, and keep
 
 TRISTRAM AND ISOLDE. 471 
 
 it carefully. It contains a drink made of the expressed juices of 
 certain plants, and is a love-potion. See that my daughter and 
 her husband both drink it on their marriage day, and all will yet 
 be well." 
 
 The nurse promised to be careful, and took leave of the queen. 
 
 Wind and weather were favourable to the voyagers. One day 
 when Tristram had been singing and playing to the princess for 
 a long time, and trying his best to distract her thoughts from 
 dwelling on her dead uncle, her old home, and the unknown future, 
 he became so thirsty that before beginning another song he was 
 fain to ask for something to drink. One of the attendants opened 
 a cupboard, and finding there a goblet with a drink all ready 
 prepared, supposed that the nurse had made it in case it were 
 wanted, and took it to Tristram, who handed the cup first to 
 Isolde that she might pledge him, as was the custom. The 
 princess raised the cup to her lips and drank a little ; but finding 
 it very good, she put it to her lips again, and drank half the 
 contents. Then she returned it to Tristram, who finished it at 
 a draught. 
 
 Their eyes met, and they knew that they loved each other. 
 
 When Brangane came in a few minutes later, and saw the empty 
 goblet upon the table, she burst into tears, and bemoaned what had 
 occurred, saying that the queen had given her the love-potion 
 to administer to Isolde and King Mark upon their wedding-day. 
 But the princess comforted her by asserting that no harm was 
 done, for human beings had free will, and could struggle against 
 enchantment And struggle they did ; but their love was strong. 
 
 The ship reached the harbour, and King Mark came down to 
 meet his nephew and his bride. He was much pleased with the 
 appearance of the princess, whom he welcomed with all ceremony 
 the marriage took place, and King Mark thought himself a happy 
 man.
 
 472 ARTHUR AND THE HOLY GRAIL. 
 
 All went on quietly for some time, so carefully did the nurse 
 conceal her lady's love for Sir Tristram ; but after a time people 
 began to whisper, and at length the whisper reached the ears of 
 the king. At first he would not believe the truth of what he 
 heard, but afterwards the thing was proved to him so clearly that 
 he could no longer doubt. He determined to bring the lovers to 
 trial. Meanwhile Brangane had discovered that the king knew 
 all ; she therefore warned Tristram, and fled into the forest with 
 him and Isolde. There they hid themselves in a cave for a long 
 time. But winter was coming on, and the nurse feared for her 
 darling's life if she remained in such a place during the frost and 
 snow. 
 
 One day as they were talking over what were best to be done, 
 King Mark suddenly appeared amongst them. Brangane stepped 
 forward, and assured him that the stories that he had been told 
 were all gossip ; and the king, who loved both Tristram and 
 Isolde, willingly believed her, and took them home with him. 
 
 But the effect of the philter had not yet passed off, nor had the 
 young people conquered their love. Whispers again arose about 
 the court, and Tristram could not call any of the whisperers to 
 account, for he knew that he had dishonoured the name of knight, 
 and had ill repaid his uncle's kindness. Isolde, too, was miserable. 
 They both made up their minds that they must part, and as they 
 said farewell, it was with the fervent hope that the magic potion 
 would have lost its power by the time they met again. 
 
 Tristram went away. He wandered through Normandy and 
 Alemannia ; he fought many battles, and led a bold, adventurous 
 life, but he could not forget Isolde. At last he came to the 
 kingdom of Arundel, and there he found King Jovelin and his son 
 Kaedin hiding in a thatched cottage in a great forest, from the 
 bands of robbers who had overrun the land. It was late in 
 the evening when he arrived at the solitary house, where he met
 
 TRISTRAM AND ISOLDE. 473 
 
 with a kind reception. The lovely daughter of his host, curiously 
 enough, was also named Isolde, to which was added the appellation 
 of " la blanche mains." It did him good to be with the maiden 
 and her father. He promised them his aid, and for this purpose 
 went to visit his own kingdom. There he found his presence 
 much wanted, for old Rual was dead, and all was confusion in 
 the land. His first action was to re-establish order and good 
 government, after which he called out his troops, and marched 
 to Arundel to help King Jovelin. He fought the robbers there, 
 chased them out of the land, replaced the king on his throne, and 
 made friends with Kaedin. Weeks passed, and he became en- 
 gaged to Isolde of the white hand. He vainly hoped that being 
 married to another woman would cure him of his love for the 
 Queen of Cornwall, and he knew that the princess loved him. 
 
 His betrothal did not bring him peace. His affection for the 
 Lady Isolde grew no stronger, so in despair he put off his 
 marriage, and, unable to feign a love he did not feel, went out 
 to seek death at the hands of the robber hordes that had again 
 invaded the country. He conquered them, and forced them to fly. 
 On his return from this expedition, his marriage day was fixed ; 
 but one evening he was induced to accompany his friend Kaedin 
 on a dangerous adventure, and during the combat to which this led, 
 he received a spear thrust in the breast. He fell senseless to the 
 ground. Kaedin carried him out of the fight, and took him home 
 to the palace, where Isolde succeeded in bringing him to himself 
 again. 
 
 Every one hoped that he would soon recover from his wound ; 
 but instead of that he grew worse. One day he said that the 
 Queen of Cornwall had a remedy that would cure him, if she 
 could only be induced to bring it Kaedin at once set off for 
 Cornwall to appeal to her compassion. No sooner had the queen 
 heard his tale than she persuaded King Mark to let her go to
 
 474 
 
 ARTHUR AND THE HOLY GRAIL. 
 
 Arundel, and cure his nephew. Armed with his permission, she 
 started on her long journey by sea and land, and never rested 
 till she arrived at King Jovelin's palace. There she was greeted 
 with the sad words, "You have come too late he is dying." 
 They led her to his couch, and she knelt down and took his 
 hand. A slight pressure showed that he knew who she was ; 
 next moment he opened his eyes, gazed at her with a sad and 
 loving look, and then died. She bent over him and kissed him, 
 and in that kiss her spirit passed away. They were buried three 
 days later under the same grave-mound in the distant land of 
 Arundel.
 
 TANNHAUSER BETWEEN ECKHARD AND VENUS. 
 
 LEGEND OF TANNHAUSER. 
 
 TANNHAUSER IN TROUBLE. 
 
 /"~\NE evening when the noble knight Tannhauser was 
 ^-^ sitting in a miserable wayside inn, grumbling over the 
 fate that had made him a poor man instead of a prince, he was 
 startled by a loud knocking at the door. He felt a moment's 
 terror lest it should be the bailiffs come to arrest him for debt ; 
 but instead of that, it was his good lord, Duke Friedrich of 
 Babenberg, who ruled the rich Danubian land of Austria.
 
 476 LEGEND OF TANNHAUSER. 
 
 The duke chid the young man for his debts and follies, and 
 then, giving him a purse full of gold, desired him to return to 
 court, where his music and society were much missed. 
 
 So Tannhauser once more returned to court, and took part in 
 the gay doings there. He also aided his liege lord in many a 
 great battle waged against the enemies of the realm. He was 
 a great favourite of his master, both because of his gift of song, 
 and because of his bravery. So Friedrich gave him the fair 
 estate of Leopoldsdorf, near Vienna, as well as a large sum of 
 money. 
 
 The Hohenstaufens, too, looked upon him favourably, both the 
 Emperor Frederick II., and his son Konrad, who ruled in 
 Germany after him. The minstrel received many gifts at their 
 hands, and was devoted to their service. 
 
 But although large sums were thus continually passing into his 
 coffers, he was always in debt. In course of time his patron the 
 Duke was killed in the battle of the Leitha. He mourned him 
 deeply, and wrote a number of beautiful songs in memory of the 
 man who had been so kind to him. But at length his poetic soul 
 began to turn with more pleasure to cheerful themes, so he collected 
 what little remained of his wealth, and, setting out in the bright 
 summer days, he wandered from castle to castle, and from town 
 to town, sometimes hungry, sometimes happy, as he was ill or 
 well received. He travelled through Bavaria, and remained some 
 time at Niirnberg, where song was loved and studied ; and after 
 that he crossed the Alps into Italy. At Pavia, he made the 
 acquaintance of a German knight, who was much drawn to the 
 fascinating minne-singer, and he, in his turn, to the knight's fair 
 daughter, Kunigunde. The old knight, on being asked for his 
 daughter's hand, replied that he liked Tannhauser very much, and 
 would give him his daughter willingly if he had the wherewithal 
 to support her. Minstrelsy was all very well, he added, but it
 
 LEGEND OF TANNHAUSER. 477 
 
 would not keep a family in bread and butter. " You have both 
 your sword and your harp to trust to," he concluded with a smile ; 
 " go, and make enough money to set up house, and then I will 
 give you Kunigunde." 
 
 Tannhauser took leave of his lady-love, promising to return in 
 a year with the needful ducats ; and he fully intended to keep his 
 promise. 
 
 KLINGSOHR AND TRUSTY ECKHARD. 
 
 He rode away sad at heart ; but the weather was so beautiful, 
 and the birds were singing so gaily, that he could not remain sad 
 long. He sang wherever he could get an audience, but sweet 
 and joyous as was the music he made, it brought him no gold. 
 He therefore tried what his sword could do for him, and fought 
 under the banner of King Konrad, against his rival Heinrich 
 Raspe, the "pope's king," thereby helping to win the battle of 
 Ulm. He was handsomely rewarded for his assistance. Then he 
 went back to Italy, and fought there also for the Hohenstaufens, 
 for which service he was richly paid. Once, soon after this, he 
 sought and found shelter for the night in a castle where many 
 knights were assembled. After supper he delighted every one 
 with his minstrelsy. But immediately after he had ceased to 
 sing, a stranger came in, dressed in black garments embroidered 
 with gold, and wearing black feathers in his cap. He had a harp 
 in his hand, and, seating himself, began to play and sing in a 
 deep, powerful, and yet melodious, voice. His song was strange 
 and eerie in its effect. The guests all glanced at each other in 
 silence when it was done. They felt ill at ease, they knew not 
 why. 
 
 Tannhauser, throwing off the unaccountable feeling that 
 possessed him, caught up his harp, and sang a merry ditty about 
 woods and birds and flowers, and soon both he and the other
 
 478 LEGEND OF TANNHAUSER. 
 
 guests were restored to their usual cheerfulness. After that, they 
 all began to play at dice. Tannhauser won large sums, and lost 
 them again immediately to the black stranger, and not only these, 
 but some of the money he had put aside for his marriage. 
 
 The next day, when he left the castle, the stranger went with 
 him, remained with him all day, and before night fell, had won all 
 his money from him. Seeing how sad Tannhauser looked, the 
 stranger laughed, and said : 
 
 " Do not pull such a long face over so small a matter as the 
 loss of a few gold pieces, but come with me to Wartburg ; 
 Landgrave Hermann has summoned a minstrel tournament to 
 meet, in which the prizes are lands and wealth, but he who fails 
 will lose his head. My name is Klingsohr, and I come from 
 Hungary. I am willing to enter into an alliance with you. Youi 
 songs are like the bliss of heaven ; mine, like the horrors of hell, 
 If we are successful, you may have the wealth I shall take the 
 heads ; if, on the other hand, we lose, we shall go together to 
 heaven or hell ; what does it matter which ? You shudder like 
 a weakling to hear me talk thus, for you believe the tales the 
 priests tell you about fire and brimstone ; but instead of that, it 
 is the realm of Dame Venus, who gives her friends the most 
 exquisite pleasures earth can afford, and both silver and gold 
 in abundance. If you do not care for the minstrel tournament, 
 you can visit the fair queen on the road to Wartburg, for she lives 
 in the Horselberg, which we shall have to pass at any rate." 
 
 Tannhauser listened to his companion with a shudder ; but 
 when he went on to describe the unspeakable glories of the 
 Horselberg, and to tell of the marvellous charms of the queen, 
 he felt a growing desire to see Dame Venus with his own eyes. 
 So he set out with his strange companion, forgetting, or nearly 
 forgetting, Kunigunde, and his love for her. 
 
 When the travellers approached the mountains of Thuringia
 
 LEGEND OF TANNHAUSER. 479 
 
 they were joined by a tall and stately man in full armour, 
 with his sword at his side, and a white staff in his hand. 
 As they walked on together, they exchanged confidences as to 
 who they were, and from whence they came. The new-comer 
 said : 
 
 "People call me the faithful Eckhard, the Harlungs' comfort, 
 for I took care of the noble youths for many years ; but, alas ! 
 wicked Ermenrich, and his evil counsellor Sibich, slew them 
 in my absence, and all I could do was to aveng* their death." 
 
 "The Harlungs, Ermenrich, Sibich," repeated Tannhauser 
 thoughtfully, " it must have been long ago." 
 
 " Three or four hundred years or even more may have passed 
 since then," answered Eckhard. " I find it difficult to reckon 
 time after the manner of men ; but ever since those old days 
 I have been busily employed in warning people away from 
 the Venus Mount" 
 
 Klingsohr burst out laughing, and cried, " Spare your words, 
 old fool ; so you are one of the idiots who blaspheme Dame 
 Venus." 
 
 " Get thee behind me, tempter," said Eckhard ; "I am going 
 to take the good knight to the Wartburg, where he may win 
 glory and wealth." 
 
 " And I am going on to prepare his lodging in our queen's 
 palace," answered the other, as he set off at a brisk pace towards 
 the mountains. 
 
 The minstrel and Eckhard continued their way quietly, talking 
 the while. At last they came to the beautiful Horselthal, with 
 its meadows, trees, and rushing stream, and, a little farther on, 
 to a bleak mountain, out of which came a confused sound as 
 of waves beating a rock-bound coast, the roar and clatter of 
 a water-mill, human cries of rage, and the howling of wild 
 beasts.
 
 480 LEGEND OF TANNHAUSER. 
 
 "That is the Horselberg," said Eckhard, "the place win-re 
 Dame Venus holds her court, with the wicked who are uinler 
 her dominion. Keep thine eyes and ears both shut, lest the 
 temptress entangle thce in her net." 
 
 DAME VENUS. 
 
 The nearer the travellers came to the mountain, the more 
 the confused and discordant sounds they had at first In .ml 
 resolved themselves into harmony. Through a door in tin- 
 rock they could see knights, beautiful women, and dwarfs. All 
 seemed to be enjoying themselves to the utmost. At the entraiu-e 
 sat a fair woman in royal robes. The moment she saw Tann- 
 hauser, she smiled, and signed to him to approach. Keklurd 
 in the same moment entreated him by all he held sacred to 
 beware of the temptress, who was outwardly like an am;el of 
 light, but inwardly a fiend incarnate. He would have said more, 
 but Venus interrupted him by beginning to sing a wondrous 
 song about all the joys that awaited those who entered her 
 kingdom ; and Tannhauser, as thoroughly enchanted as thcu-h 
 a magic spell had been cast over him, thrust Eckhard aside, 
 and hastened to .the queen of beauty, who stretched out her 
 arms towards him. She half drew him over the threshold, and 
 he half staggered across. Then the door shut, and the faithful 
 Eckhard saw him no more. 
 
 It would be impossible to describe all the wonders and delights 
 that greeted the eyes and ears of the lost knight Every day 
 brought new pleasures, which he enjoyed to the utmost. Init 
 at length he began to tire of it, and confessed to himself that 
 satiety was not happiness. He had a horror of himself, ami 
 of the self-indulgent life he was leading; and his conscience, 
 once awake, left him no peace. After an inward struggle, he
 
 \D OF TAXXIIAUSER. 481 
 
 made up his mind to go and seek out a pious priest, tell him 
 all, and entreat him to show him how he might gain absolu- 
 tion. 
 
 Tannhauser felt much happier when he had formed this reso- 
 lution. He went to Queen Venus, and asked her to let him 
 go. At first she refused, and then consented, saying that he 
 might come back to her if he did not find what he was going 
 away to seek. So he went out into the sweet fresh air, which 
 was so pure that it almost took his breath away for the first 
 few minutes. Then he went on his way with much foreboding : 
 should he, or should he not, find a priest who could help him ? 
 He told his tale to priests, abbots, and bishops, but they 
 one and all declared that they could not help him, that the 
 Holy Father at Rome was the only person on earth who had 
 power to absolve a sinner who had had dealings with the powers 
 of the under-world. 
 
 1U- went to Rome, and confessed all his sin and sorrow to 
 the Pope, whom he found walking in the garden, and awaited 
 the un>\\vr of his Holiness with a broken and a contrite heart. 
 But the Pope replied with harsh voice and unbending brow : 
 
 You are an adherent of the cursed race of Hohenstaufen ; 
 you have dwelt among the lost spirits in hell, and have been 
 one with them : I tell you plainly that God can no more 
 pardon you than this dry stick can put forth leaves and flowers"; 
 so saying, he thrust his gold-headed walking-stick into the ground, 
 and walked away leaving it there. 
 
 Tannhauser then exclaimed in his misery, "What shall I do? 
 The high-priest of the Lord has cast me off, heaven is closed 
 against me, and men will have nought to do with me." 
 
 At this moment an unknown voice broke in, "There is a 
 higher than this priest, even He whose dwelling is in heaven, and 
 He that came to redeem men from their sins, and who said, 
 
 H H
 
 482 LEGEND OF TANNHAUSER. 
 
 ' Come unto Me, all ye that are weary and heavy laden, and 
 I will give you rest.' " 
 
 Tannhauser started when he heard himself thus addressed, and, 
 turning round, beheld the faithful Eckhard. 
 
 " Alas," he answered, " it is too late ; I cannot, dare not, pray 
 any more. I will now return to Dame Venus, and the pleasures 
 she offers me." 
 
 So he went back to the Horselberg in spite of Eckhard's 
 entreaties ; for he was utterly hopeless. 
 
 Now it came to pass, three days after, that the Pope again 
 walked in his garden, and behold, the walking-stick which he 
 thrust into the ground had taken root, and put forth leaves 
 and blossoms. The sight filled him with amazement, and he 
 remembered the words of the Saviour : " Be ye also merciful, 
 even as your Father in heaven is merciful." And he sent out 
 messengers in search of Tannhauser ; but he could not be found, 
 for he had returned to Dame Venus
 
 INDEX. 
 
 Aachen, 396, 400, 407. 
 
 Adehart, son of Haymon, v. Children of 
 
 Haymon. 
 
 Aelfrich (Alberich), 59. 
 Africa, 400, 401. 
 Aix-la-Chapelle, v. Aachen. 
 Alberich, Dwarf, 55, 59-81, 109, 236, 256. 
 Alboin, ^9-27. 
 Aldarich, 21. 
 Alemannia, 472. 
 Alicon, 412. 
 Alischanz, 412. 
 Alise, Princess, 415, 417. 
 Allfather, 353, v. also Odin, Wodan. 
 Allthing (assembly), 359. 
 Alphart of Aquitaine, 203, 209, 216, 217-9. 
 Alps, 476. 
 
 Amelolt, 203, 206, 208, 216. 
 Amelungs, the, 82-135, 208, 214, 216, 
 
 222, 224, 277, 294, 295, 296, 304. 
 Amfortas, King, 425, 426, 441, 447, 448, 
 
 449, 45, 454- 
 Ancona, 200. 
 Anjou, 454. 
 Antwerp, 460. 
 Anzius, Emperor, 82. 
 Apollo, 69. 
 Apulia, 58, 397. 
 Aquitaine, 213, 412. 
 Arabella, 410, 411. 
 Ardennes, Forest of, 392. 
 Aribadale, 454. 
 Arnold, 50-54. 
 Aron, 146. 
 Arthur, King, Legends of, 419-82 ; 427, 
 
 428, 430, 431, 432, 438, 439, 446, 453. 
 Arundel, 472, 473. 
 Aspilian, 192. 
 Asprian, 49. 
 Attila, King, v. Etzel. 
 Auda, 398, 400, 401, 407. 
 Audoin, 20. 
 Austria, 475- 
 Avars, 2O, 367. 
 Avignon, 411. 
 Awentrod, 192, 196. 
 Aya, 372, 373, 380, 381, 393, 394, 395. 
 Aymon, v. Haymon. 
 
 Babenberg, 475. 
 Babylon, 402. 
 Badhilda, 157. 
 Balduin, 404, 405, 406. 
 
 Baldur, 241, 273, 276, 304. 
 
 Balian, Castle, ^07, 308, 312, 313, 314, 
 
 3.i6, 318. 
 
 Baligan, King, 103, 104. 
 Baligant, Caliph, 402, 406. 
 Balikan, Emir, 410. 
 Balmung (Sword), 236, 267, 269, 283, 
 
 296, 297, 298, 299, 304, 305. 
 Bari, 28, 49. 
 Basilistum, 50-54. 
 Bavaria, 280, 476. 
 Bayard (Horse), 370, 371, 373, 374, 376, 
 
 382, 383, 385, 387, 393, 394, 395. 
 Beaurepart, Monastery of, 385. 
 Bechelaren, 189, 208, 212, 281, 291, 292, 
 
 293, 303, 304, v. also Riidiger. 
 Belt, Magic, 176. 
 Belripar, 433, 434, 454. 
 Berchtung, Duke of Pola, 29-54, 83-92, 
 
 93, 112, 113, 114, 205, 206, 208. 
 Bee-wolf, v. Beowulf. 
 Beowulf, 347-364. 
 Berillus, 419. 
 Bern (Verona), 123, 124, 158, 160, 163, 
 
 169, 172, 174, 181, 189, 190, 195, 199, 
 
 201, 203, 204, 206, 207, 208, 216, 22 j. 
 Berserker, 313. 
 Bertha, 400. 
 Biterolf, 171, 172, 189. 
 Black Forest, 280. 
 Blancheflur, 463, 464, 465. 
 Blaive, 407. 
 
 Blodelin, 285, 286, 287. 
 Bogen, 88, 89, 91, 113. 
 Bolfriana, 198. 
 Boswilde, 157. 
 Brabant, 460. 
 Brangane, 470, 471, 472. 
 Bravalla, Battle of, 357. 
 Breisach, 114, 2OI, 202. 
 Breisgau, 201. 
 Breka, 350, 351. 
 Brosing Treasure, 354. 
 Brunhild, 234, 235, 251, 253-73, 275. 34, 
 
 35, 3 6 - 
 Brunstein, 122. 
 Bulgaria, 82. 
 Burgundians, 210, 212, 213, 256, 258, 269, 
 
 270, 272, 276, 279-99. 
 Burgundy, 186, 191, 209, 237, 238, 241, 
 
 257, 261, 266, 271, 273, 284, 292, 305, 
 
 397- 
 Duchess of, 398
 
 INDEX. 
 
 Cap of Darkness, 176, 246. 
 
 Cappadocia, 419. 
 
 Carolingian Legends, 367-418. 
 
 Cassian, 331, 345. 
 
 Catalonia, 425. 
 
 Caucasus, 182. 
 
 Ceres (River), 400. 
 
 Clarissa, 380, 384, 385, 386, 391, 395, 425. 
 
 Chalons, Count of, 384, 385. 
 
 Charlemagne, 27, 367, 372, 376, 382, 383, 
 384, 386, 387, 391, 392, 393, 394, 395, 
 396, 398, 399, 4 02 > 4o6, 407, 408, 409. 
 
 Children of Haymon, 367-96. 
 
 Chriemhild, 237, 238-99, 300. 
 
 Cologne, 162, 396, 456, 461. 
 
 Conduiramur, v. Konduiramur. 
 
 Constantine, 30-54. 
 
 Constantinople, 27, 30, 49, 82, 87, 89, 90, 
 
 91, III, 112. 
 
 Cornwall, 465, 466, 468, 470, 473. 
 Cumberland, 430. 
 
 Dankrat, 238, 252, 254, 285, 287, 288, 295. 
 
 Danube, 189, 277, 280. 
 
 Denmark, 315. 
 
 Diebolt, 400. 
 
 Dietelinde, 281, 304. 
 
 Dieter the Harlung, 201. 
 
 Dietherbernet, 226. [207, 213. 
 
 Dietleib of Styria, 169-78, 179, 189, 205, 
 
 Dietmar, 122, 201. 
 
 Dietmarsch, 315, 321. 
 
 Dietrich of Bern, 52, 135-226, 277, 281, 
 
 286, 288, 291, 293, 294, 295, 296, 297, 
 
 300, 303, 304. 
 Dietwart, 125. 
 Dordo(g)ne, 401, 407. 
 Dortmund, 396. 
 Drachenfels, 198. 
 Drachenstein, 243-52. 
 Drusian, 98-101. 
 Durindart (Sword), 404, 405. 
 Duringen (Thuringia), 289. 
 
 Eadgils, 358, 359. 
 
 Eanmund, 358, 359. 
 
 Ecke, 162, 163, 164. 
 
 Eckehart, 114, 186, 189, 201, 202, 203, 
 
 206, 219, 223, 224. 
 Ecke-sax (Sword), 164, 1 68. 
 Eckewart, 238, 272. 
 Edgar, 192. 
 Eigel, 157, 158. 
 
 Eigoland, King, 400, 401, 402, 409. 
 Ektheov, 349. 
 Elias (Ylyas), 56. 
 Eligas (Ylyas), 56. 
 Elizabeth, 419. 
 Else, v. Fair- Else. 
 Elsung of Bern, 123, 222. 
 
 Engel, King, 245, 247, 248, 251. 
 
 Erka ("Herka), 193. 
 
 Ermenrich, Emperor, 169, 170, 197, 198, 
 
 199-208, 213, 216, 223, 277, 479. 
 Etzel, King, 172, 189, 190, 191-7, 208, 
 
 209-22, 274-306. 
 Etzelburg, 275, 277, 281, 286, 291, 300, 304. 
 
 Fair-Else, 455-61. 
 
 Falcon (Horse), 154, 220. 
 
 Falkalone, 384. 
 
 Feirefiss, 449, 450, 451, 452, 454. 
 
 Flammberg (Sword), 373, 376, 385. 
 
 France, 409, 411. 
 
 Franks, 209, 210, 405, 406, 408. 
 
 Frederick, Duke of Babenberg, 475, 476. 
 
 Prince, 200, 2 1 6. 
 
 Freya, 235, 270, 304, v, also Frigga. 
 
 Friedburg, 198. 
 
 Frigga, 25, v. also Freya. 
 
 Frimutel, 424, 425. 
 
 Friesland, 192, 315, 321, 357. 
 
 Fritele, 114, 201, 202. 
 
 Fritilaburg, 169, 198. 
 
 Frute, the Wise, 315, 316, 318, 328, 329. 
 
 Furious Host, 226. 
 
 Galicia, 400. 
 
 Gamuret, 449. 
 
 Ganelon, 375-384, 401-403, 404, 406, 407. 
 
 Garadie, Count of, 313. 
 
 Garadin, 313. 
 
 Garden, 10, 75, 76, 79, 80, 106, 107, no, 
 
 JI 3> !73> 2 6, 216, 222, 223. 
 Garonne (River), 400. 
 Gascony, 400, 409. 
 
 Gaul, 419. [447, 453. 
 
 Gavvain, 438, 439, 440, 442, 445, 446, 
 Gere, 238, 266. 
 Gerhart, Count, 397, 399. 
 Gerlind, Queen, "322, 331-346. 
 Gepidse, 20, 25, 26, 27. [298. 
 
 Gernot, 237, 238, 240, 272, 273, 274, 290, 
 Gcrwart, no. 
 Gibich, 190. 
 Giselher, 238, 265, 272, 274, 275, 276, 
 
 281, 282, 290, 291, 292, 295, 298, 303. 
 Godelinde, 303. 
 
 Gothland, 349. [364. 
 
 Goths, the, 351, 352, 353, 354, 359, 363, 
 Grail, Holy, 419, 421, 424, 425, 426, 430, 
 
 434-440, 447, 448, 449, 450, 452, 454, 
 
 455, 462. 
 
 Legends of, 419-482. 
 
 Gramoflans, 441, 447. 
 
 Greece, 82. 
 
 Greeks, the, 91. [354, 356, 357. 
 
 Grendel, 347, 348, 349, 351, 352, 353, 
 
 Gudrun, 320-346. 
 
 Guinevere, 447.
 
 INDEX. 
 
 485 
 
 Gunther, 212, 237, 238, 239, 240, 241, 
 242, 251, 252, 253, 254, 255, 256, 257, 
 258, 259, 261, 264, 265, 266, 268, 269, 
 272, 273, 274, 275, 283, 287, 288, 290, 
 292, 295, 296, 297, 298, 306. 
 
 Gunther (nephew), 260. [470. 
 
 Gurmun (King of Ireland), 466, 467, 468, 
 
 Gurnemann, 432, 433, 438. 
 
 Gyburg, 411, 413, 416, 417. 
 
 Hache, 114, 223. 
 
 Hadubrand, 116. 
 
 Hagen of Troye, 209, 2IO, 212, 213, 234, 
 237, 239, 240, 241, 243, 244, 252, 254, 
 256, 259, 265, 266, 267, 268, 269, 270, 
 271, 272, 273, 274, 275, 276, 278, 279, 
 280, 281, 282, 283, 284, 286, 287, 288, 
 289, 290, 291, 293, 294, 295, 296, 297, 
 298, 300, 304, 305, 307-314, 316, 318, 
 319, 320, 322. 
 
 Hama, 354. 
 
 Hardred, 358, 359, 361. 
 
 Harlungs, the, 114, 199, 201, 224, 479. 
 
 Hartmut, 322, 325, 327, 331, 332, 333, 
 
 338, 339, 34, 341, 342, 345, 340. 
 Haward, 289. 
 Hawk's Nose, 1 10. 
 Haymon's Children, 367-396. 
 Hegeling Legends, 307-364. 
 Henne the Grim, 189. 
 Heime, 152-157, 160, 169, 170, 171, 172, 
 
 197, 198, 202, 204, 206, 218, 223, 224. 
 Heine (Hama), 354. 
 Heinrich of Saxony, King, 456, 461. 
 Helche, 54, 210, 215, 275, 303. 
 Helfrich, 293, 295. 
 Helfrich of Tuscany, 146. 
 Heligoland, 157. 
 Hel, v. Helle. 
 Hella v. Helle. 
 Helle, 243, 276. 
 Helmigis, 25. 
 Helmnot, 295. 
 Helmschrot, 208. 
 Henry of Narbonne, 408-418. 
 Herche v. Herka. 
 Herbrand, 113, 186, 194. 
 Hergart, 345, 346. 
 Herka, 54. 
 
 Hermann, Landgrave, 478, 
 Herrat, 54, 215, 221, 224, 304. 
 Hertnit, 189, 192, 194. 
 Herwig of Zealand, 325, 326, 327, 328, 
 
 329, 33', 334, 337, 339- 342, 345. 
 Herzelinde, 227, 425, 448, 
 Hettel the Hegeling, 315-330. 
 Hildburg, 82-89, 309. [338, 339. 
 
 Hildburg (grand-daughter), 327, 334, 337, 
 Hilde, 309, 312, 313, 314, 3iS- 317, 3*8. 
 
 319, 320, 321, 3 2? . 326, 329, 345, 346. 
 
 Hildebrand, 114, 135-151, 160, 161, 163, 
 168, 173-178, 180, 183, 189, 191, 203, 
 205, 206, 216, 219, 221, 222, 223, 294, 
 295, 296, 299, 300, 303. 
 
 Hildegunde, 83, 209-213. 
 
 Hildeswid, 119, 122. 
 
 Hirschhalle, 348. 
 
 Hoder, 273, 276. 
 
 Hohenstaufens, the, 476, 477. 
 
 Holy Land, 396. 
 
 Mountain, 453. 
 
 Horand, the Minstrel, 315, 318, 319, 328, 
 
 33, 340. 
 
 Horn, Golden (port of Constantinople), 31. 
 Hornboge, 160, 163, 168. 
 Horselberg, 478, 479, 482. 
 Hb'rselthal, 479. 
 
 Hrodgar, 347, 348, 351, 352, 353, 355, 356. 
 Hronesnas (Hill), 364. 
 Hrunting (Sword), 354. 
 Hug of Uordone, 368, 371. 
 Hugdieterich, 82-114. 
 Hugelwarte, 90. 
 Hunford, 351, 353, 355. 
 Hungary, 367, 461, 478. 
 Hunolt, 238. 
 Hunland, 279-299. 
 Huns, the, 89, 172, 192, 194, 209, 210, 
 
 211, 212, 215, 2l6, 219, 221, 275, 276, 
 288, 289, 291, 292, 293. 
 
 Hygd, Queen, 357, 358. 
 Hygelak, 349, 350, 355, 357. 
 
 Ilmenrik, 169, 170. [19- 
 
 Ilsan the Monk, 162, 166-9, l8 5> l88 - l8 9, 
 
 Imbreke, 114, 201, 202. 
 
 Imelot, 50-54. 
 
 Ireland, 307, 316, 468. 
 
 Irmin, 276. 
 
 Irmschart, Countess, 409. 
 
 Irnfried, of Duringen, 289. 
 
 Irolt, the Swift, 315, 316, 318, 328,330,341. 
 
 Isenland, 233, 251, 252, 253, 255, 256, 
 
 258, 261, 262, 265, 305, 309. 
 Isenstein, 253, 255. 
 Isolde, 463-74. 
 Isoud (Isolde), 466. 
 Isung, the Minstrel, 195, 196. 
 Italy, 412, 476, 477. 
 Itonie, 446, 447. 
 Iwanet, 431. 
 Iwo, Prince of Tarasconie, 379, 380, 384, 
 
 385, 386. 
 
 Janibas, 145, 147. 
 Jeraspunt, 147. 
 Jerusalem, 57, 396, 419. 
 Jeschute, Lady, 430. 
 Joisiane, 425. 
 Jovelin, 472, 473.
 
 486 
 
 INDEX. 
 
 Jutland, 347, 349. 
 
 Kaedin, 472, 473. 
 
 Kardeiss, 454. 
 
 Kingram, 433. 
 
 Kingrimursel, 440. 
 
 Kiot, King, 425. 
 
 Klamide, 433, 434. 
 
 Klingsohr, 440, 442, 445, 446, 477-80. 
 
 Knife-Man, the, 102-6. 
 
 Konrad, King, 223, 476, 477. 
 
 Koran, 410. 
 
 Konduiramur, Queen, 433, 434, 454. 
 
 Kundrie (witch), 439. 
 
 Kunemund, 21. 
 
 Kunhild, 174, 181, 182, 183, 184. 
 
 Kunigunde, 476, 477, 478- 
 
 Kuperan (Giant), 245, 246, 247. 
 
 Ladmer, King, 125. 
 
 Lahelin, 430. 
 
 Langobards, 20. 
 
 Laurin, King, 173-184. 
 
 Lausitz, 226. 
 
 Leitha, Battle of the, 476. 
 
 Leo, Pope, 411, 412. 
 
 Leopoldsdorf, 476. 
 
 Leupold, 31-54. [113, "4- 
 
 Liebgart, 74, 76, 79-81, 1 06, no, in, 
 
 Lilienporte, Castle, 88, 91, in, 112. 
 
 Lindolt, 208. 
 
 Lind-worms, 73-79, Io6-Ill. 
 
 Lodwig, 223. 
 
 Logreis, Castle, 442. 
 
 Lohengrin, 453-62. 
 
 Loherangrin, 453. 
 
 Lombardy, 55, 56, 60, 71, 80, 82, 106, 
 
 no, 113, 201, 216, 221, 
 Longinus, 26. 
 Love-potion, 470. 
 Ludegast, 241, 266. 
 Liideger, 241, 266. 
 Ludwig, King of Normandy, 322, 327, 
 
 329, 340, 374, 375, 376, 409, 410, 411, 
 
 412, 414, 415. 
 
 Machorell, 57, 66, 67, 69-73. 
 
 Mahomet, 69. 
 
 Malagis, 369, 370, 371, 382, 383, 385, 
 
 387, 388, 391, 392, 393- 
 Mantua, 207. 
 Mark, King of Cornwall, 465, 466, 468, 
 
 470, 471, 472, 473. 
 Marpilia, 103, 104, 105. 
 Marsilio, King, 400, 402, 405, 406. 
 Martin, no. 
 
 Matelane, Castle, 315, 320, 321, 325, 326. 
 Melias, King of Huns, 192, 193. 
 Mentigger, 162. 
 Meran, 91. 
 
 Mermaid, 158. 
 
 Merman, 95, 96. 
 
 Messina, 64. 
 
 Milan, 200, 205, 206, 207. 
 
 Milo, 400. 
 
 Mimer, 230. 
 
 Mimung v. (Sword), 158, 160, 161, 162, 
 
 194,196, 197, 198, 218. 
 Minne, Princess, 126. 
 Monfaucon, 386, 387, 383, 388, 393. 
 Montalban (Fortress), 380, 381, 384, 385, 
 
 386, 387, 388, 392, 393, 395. 
 Montsalvatch, 425. 
 Moors, 409, 410, 412, 415. 
 Morgan, 463, 464, 465, 466. 
 Morolt, 466, 467, 469. 
 Morung of Nifland, 315, 329, 330, 345. 
 Mtinchenzell, 189. 
 Muntabure Castle, 56, 57, 68, 69, 70. 
 
 Nagelring (Sword), 198. 
 
 Nagling (Sword), 351. 
 
 Nanna, 273. 
 
 Nantes, 430. 
 
 Naples, 64. 
 
 Narbonne, 412. 
 
 Narses, 22. [277. 
 
 Netherlands, 237, 259, 261, 263, 272, 275, 
 
 Niars, 157. 
 
 Nibelung, King, 235. 
 
 Nibelungs, 229-306. 
 
 Niduder, 157. 
 
 Nifland, 315. 
 
 Nordian, 194. 
 
 Nordland, 315 321. 
 
 Normandy, 322, 472. 
 
 Norns, 205, 243, 272, 281. 
 
 Nudung, 281. 
 
 Niirnberg, 476. 
 
 Oda, Queen, 50, 54, 192. 
 
 Odilia, 124. 
 
 Odin, 347 ; v. also Allfather, Wodan. 
 
 Ogier, 401. 
 
 Ohtere, 358. 
 
 Old-Troja, 95, 101. 
 
 Olifant (Horn), 404. [406. 
 
 Olivier, 388, 398, 399, 400, 401, 404, 405, 
 
 Omlung, v. Amelung. 
 
 Orange, 412, 413, 416. 
 
 Osantrix, 192, 193, 194, 195, 214. 
 
 Oserich, 192. 
 
 Osid, 192. 
 
 Ostrogoths, 22. [446, 447. 
 
 Orgueilleuse, Duchess (witch), 441, 442, 
 
 Orilus, Lord, 429, 430, 438. 
 
 Orleans, 414. 
 
 Ortgis, 145. 
 
 Ortnit, 55-81, 102, 106, 192. 
 
 Ortlieb, 278, 279, 287.
 
 INDEX. 
 
 487 
 
 Ortrun, Princess, 531, 342, 345. 
 Ortwin (Gaoler), 112. 
 
 Ortwin of Metz, 237, 238, 240, 242, 266, 
 321, 326, 327, 339, 340. 
 
 Padauwe, 216. 
 
 Padua, 2 1 6. 
 
 Pampeluna, 400, 401. 
 
 Parille, 419. [396, 407. 
 
 Paris, 367, 380, 381, 382, 383, 386, 394, 
 
 Parmenia, 466. 
 
 Pavia, 22, 476. 
 
 Percival, 425-52, 454, 455, 461. 
 
 Peredeus (Giant), 26-7. 
 
 Pierlepont, Castle, 372, 373, 374, 380, 381. 
 
 Pinabel, 407. 
 
 Pipin, 400. 
 
 Portugal, 309. 
 
 Prester John, 453. 
 
 Pyrenees, 372, 373. 
 
 Raging Host v. Furious Host. 
 Rah en, v. Ravenna. 
 Rainier, 398. 
 Randolt, 200. 
 Randwer, 199, 201. 
 Raspe, Heinrich, 477. 
 Rauch-Else, 93-95. 
 Raven-fight, 216-221, 295. 
 Ravenna, 26, 207. 
 
 Battle of, 216-221, 295. 
 
 Resell bald, 200. 
 
 Reinaldi Church, 396. 
 
 Reinhold, 204. [Haymon. 
 
 Reinold, Son of Haymon, v. Children of 
 
 Rennewart, 416, 417. 
 
 Repanse, 454. 
 
 Reussen, 56, 189, 192, 214, 319. 
 
 Rhine (River), 180. 1^9, 201, 2O2, 251, 
 
 265, 273, 279, 280, 282, 292, 298, 396, 
 
 456,459, 461. 
 Rhineland, 114, 162, 190. 
 Rhone (River), 398. 
 Ribestein, 199, 200, 201, 203, 206. 
 Richard, son of Haymon, v. Children of 
 
 Haymon. 
 Richonde, 424. 
 Rimstein, 197. 
 Ring (Magic), 176. 
 Rinold of Milan, 219, 22O. 
 Ritchart, 295. 
 Rivalin, 463, 464, 465. 
 Rodgeier, 116, 119-121. [396-407. 
 
 Roland, 371, 372, 379, 382, 383, 386, 395, 
 Romaburg, v. Rome. 
 Rome, 64, 125, 169, 200, 203, 206, 213, 
 
 224, 374, 400, 412, 481. 
 Ronceval, 403-407, 409. 
 Rosamund, 19-27. 
 Rose Garden, the Great, i8> 
 
 Rose Garden, the Little, 173-184. 
 
 Rosen (Sword), 74, 76. 
 
 Rothaires, 27. 
 
 Rother, King, 28-54. [453. 
 
 Round Table, 430. 431, 438, 439, 442, 447, 
 
 Rual, 463, 464, 465, 466. 473. 
 
 Riidiger ofBechelaren, 189, 190, 191, 193, 
 
 208, 214, 294, 295, 296, 303, 304. 
 Rumolt, 238. 
 Runes, 357. 
 Ruother, v. Rother. 
 Ruotwin, 146. 
 Ruotze 71, 74, 75. 
 Rype (Knight), 387. 
 
 Sabene, 87-92, 112, 113. 
 
 Saforet, 379. 
 
 Salern, 115. 
 
 Sampsing, v. Samson. 
 
 Samson, King, 115-124, 222. 
 
 Sangreal, v. Grail, Holy. 
 
 Saracens, 409, 420, 453. 454. 
 
 Saragossa, 400, 402, 406. 
 
 Scotland, 322. 
 
 Schilbung, King, 235. 
 
 Seeburg, Queen. 162. 
 
 Seine (River), 382, 394, 395. 
 
 She-wolf of the Sea, 354. 
 
 Sibich, 200. 203, 204, 206, 207, 223, 479. 
 
 Sicily, 58, 64. 
 
 Sidr.it. Princess, 57, 69-71, 79-81. 
 
 Siegfried, 229-273, 275, 276, 277, 279. 
 282, 283, 286, 287, 297, 298, 299, 304, 
 305, 321, 326, 327, 341, 345, 349. 
 
 Siegmund, 229, 230, 257, 259, 261, 262, 
 270, 272. 
 
 Siegmund (Siegfried), 349. 
 
 Siegwart, 229. 
 
 Sigebrand, 208, 307, 312, 313. 
 
 Sigelinde, Queen, 229, 259, 260. 
 
 Sigeminne, 92-106. 
 
 Sigestab, 189, 203, 206, 295. 
 
 Sigfrit, 229. 
 
 Sigunne, 425, 429, 430, 437, 452. 
 
 SiguriSr, 229. 
 
 Sinai, 183. 
 
 Sindolt, 238. 
 
 Sintram (Dwarf), 181. 
 
 Skeming (Horse), 196. 
 
 Skidll, 343, 347, 348. 
 
 Skioldings, the, 348, 349, 351. 
 
 Soti, 169. 
 
 Spain, 191, 372, 406, 409. 
 
 Spoleto, Duke of, 205. 
 
 Stag, Golden, 96, 97. 
 
 St. Denys, 387, 404, 412. 
 
 Steiermark, 172. 
 
 St. James the Apostle, 400. 
 
 Studas, 153, 154, 203. 
 
 Sturmland, 315, 341, 346.
 
 INDEX. 
 
 Styria, 172, 174, 189. 
 
 Suders, City of, 64. 
 
 Susat, 194, 208. 
 
 Swan-garments, 280. 
 
 Swanhild, 199, 2OI. 
 
 Swan-maidens, 280. 
 
 Swedes, 349, 359. 
 
 Swemmeling, 279, 303, 304, 305. 
 
 Swithiod (Sweden), 358. 
 
 Swords, v. Balmung, Durindart, Ecke-sax, 
 
 Flammberg, Hrunting, Mitnung, Nagel- 
 
 ring, Nagling, Rosen. 
 Syria, 57. 
 
 Tannhauser, 475-482. 
 
 Tarasconia, 379. 
 
 Tchionatulander, 425, 429, 430. 
 
 Telramund, Count of, 455, 456, 459, 461. 
 
 Templars of the Holy Grail, 452. 
 
 Terramer, 416, 417. 
 
 Terreman, Emir, 410. 
 
 Theoderic, 20. 
 
 Thessalonians, 83, 85, 87. 
 
 Thiedrich, 406, 407. 
 
 Thuringia, 289, 478. 
 
 Thurisind, 20. 
 
 Tibalt, Emir, 410, 411. [45 1 , 452. 
 
 Titurel, 419, 420, 421, 422, 424, 425, 426, 
 
 Titurisone, 419, 420. 
 
 Toads, Magic, and eggs, 71-73. 
 
 Tralenburg, 202. 
 
 Transylvania, 215. 
 
 "Trekanfil," 198. 
 
 Trevrezent, 425, 447, 448, 449. 
 
 Tring, 289. 
 
 Tristram, 463-474. 
 
 Tristan, v. Tristram. 
 
 Tronege, 209. 
 
 Turpin, Bishop, 379, 404. 405, 406. 
 
 Tuscany, 64, 200. 
 
 Tuscany, Margrave of, 80. 
 
 Tyre, 64, 65. 
 
 Tyrol, 174, 184. 
 
 Ulen, Battle of, 477. 
 
 Ute, Queen, 207, 216, 217, 223, 238, 239, 
 242, 243, 252, 257, 258, 262, 272, 273, 
 275, 276, 279, 304, 305, 308, 313. 
 
 Valencia, 410, 411. 
 
 Valkyrs, 235, 262, 398. 
 
 Venus, 478, 479, 480, 481, 482. 
 
 Verona, v. Bern. 
 
 Vespasian, 419. 
 
 Vienna, Siege of, 396-401. 
 
 Vikings, 115. 
 
 Virginal, Queen, 146-151, 154, 183, 205. 
 
 Vivian, 412. 
 
 Vivianz, 412. 
 
 Volker of Alzeyen, 238, 265, 266, 283, 
 
 284, 285, 288, 289, 290, 293, 294, 295. 
 Vosges, 170, 212. 
 Vulcanus, Mount, 369. 
 
 Wachilde, 220. 
 
 Walberan, 182, 183 
 
 Walchtheov, 354. 
 
 Waldemar, King, 214. 
 
 Waleis, 454. 
 
 Walgund, 83, 84. 
 
 Wali, 276. 
 
 Walkyrs, v. Valkyrs. 
 
 Walter of Wasgenstein, 170, 209-213. 
 
 Walter, 404, 406. 
 
 Wartburg Castle, 478. 
 
 Wasengau (Vosges), 212. 
 
 Wate, 315, 317, 318, 319, 320, 328, 329, 
 
 341, 342, 345. 346. 
 
 Waxmuth, 88, 89, 113. [Smith. 
 
 Wayland the Smith, v. Wieland the 
 Welle, 71. 
 Weohstan, 359. 
 Westenmer, 125. 
 
 Westphalia, 396. [Haymon. 
 
 Wichart, son of Haymon, v. Children of 
 Wichstan, 359, 362, 363. 
 Widolf (Giant), 192, 194, 195, 196. 
 Widolt, 50-54. [356, 362. 
 
 Wieland the Smith, 152-162, 197, 230, 
 Wildeber, 162, 168, 194, 195, 196. [319. 
 Wilkin-men, 191, 192, 193, 194, 195, 196, 
 Wilkinus, King, 158, 191, 192. 
 William of Orange, 408-418. 
 Wisora, 163. 
 Wittich, 157-162, 163, 168, 170, 174, 175- 
 
 178, 179, 189, 191, 194, 196, 197, 198, 
 
 202, 204, 206, 218, 220, 275, 281. 
 Wodan, 25, 31, 226, 229, 304. 
 Wolfbrand, 295. 
 
 Wolfdieterich, 87, 88, 89-114. [294, 295. 
 Wolfhart, 174-176, 181, 189, 190, 205, 208, 
 Wolfings, 206, 216, 222, 229. 
 Wolfrat, 49. 
 Wolfwin, 295. 
 Wolpensand, 328, 345. 
 Wolsung, 349. 
 Worbeling, 279. 
 Worms, 186, 190, 234, 237, 241, 251, 257, 
 
 261, 262, 269, 272, 274, 299, 303, 304. 
 Wulfings, 114. 
 
 Ylyas, 56-81, 192. 
 Yseult (Isolde), 466. 
 
 Zacharias, 58, 64,, 65. 
 
 Zealand, 192, 325, 326, 327, 329. 
 
 Butler & Tanner, The Selwood Printing Works, Frome, and London.

 
 CENTRAL UNIVERSITY LIBRARY 
 
 University of California, San Diego 
 
 DATE DUE 
 
 MAY 2 1338 
 
 1 
 
 M APR 2 2 1988 
 
 i 
 
 
 i 
 
 PI 
 P 
 
 i 
 
 &j 
 
 s 
 
 
 1 
 
 
 
 m 
 
 i 
 
 p 
 
 i 
 
 1 
 
 i 
 
 m 
 
 
 1 
 
 S3( 
 
 P 
 
 P 
 
 1 
 
 H 
 
 
 i 
 
 !sS 
 
 p 
 
 ! 
 
 m 
 
 is 
 i 
 
 ^^E 
 
 I 
 
 i 
 
 i 
 
 p 
 
 BPre 
 
 1 
 
 
 1 
 
 Sic/ 39 
 
 I 
 
 UCSDLibr. 1