The Death of Siegfried

(From the Nibelungenlied)

Gunther and Hagen, the fierce warriors, went hunting with false intent in the
forest—to chase the boar, the bear, and the wild bull with their sharp spears. What
fitter sport for brave men?

Siegfried rode with them in kingly pomp. They took with them a good store of
meats. By a cool stream Siegfried lost his life, as Brunhild, King Gunther's wife, had
devised it.

Before Siegfried set out, he tried to comfort his wife, who did not want him to go
with her relatives. He kissed his lady on the mouth and said: “God grant I may see
you safe and well again, and you me. Stay here merry among your kinsfolk, for I
must go.”

She said, “Go not hunting. Last night I dreamed an evil dream—that two wild
boars chased you over the heath, and the flowers were red with blood. Have pity
on my tears, for I fear some treachery. There might be someone who hates us. Go
not, my dear lord: in good faith I counsel it."

But he answered, "Dear love, I go only for a few days. I do not know anyone who
bears me hate. Thy kinsmen are good, and l have deserved no evil at their hand."

"Nay, Siegfried, for I fear some misfortune. Last night I dreamed an evil dream:
how that two mountains fell on you, and I saw you no more. If you go, you will
grieve me bitterly."

Siegfried embraced her with tenderness and then hastened to join the hunt.

The men rode into a deep forest to seek sport. They had many bold knights with
them and rich food that they needed for the journey. Baskets passed laden
before them over the Rhine River, men carrying bread and wine, and flesh and
fish, and meats of all sorts, as was fitting for a rich king.

The bold huntsmen encamped before the green woods where they were to hunt
on a broad meadow.

Then said Siegfried, "Who will go into the forest and lead us to the game?"

"If we part or we begin the chase in the woods," said Hagen, "we shall know who
is the best sportsman. Let us divide the huntsmen and the hounds, and then let
each ride alone as he wishes and he who hunts the best shall be praised." So they
started without more ado.

"But," Siegfried said, "one hound that has been well trained for the chase will be
enough for me."

Then an old huntsman took a hound and brought the company where there was
game in plenty. They hunted down all the beasts they started, as good sportsmen
should.

Whatever the hound started, the hero slew with his hands. His horse ran so swiftly
that nothing escaped him; he won greater praise than any other one in the
chase. In all things he was manly. The first that he smote to death was a half-grown
boar. Soon after, he encountered a grim lion that the hound started. This he shot
with his bow and a sharp arrow; the lion made only three springs and fell. Loud
were the praises of his comrades. Then he killed, one after another, a buffalo, an
elk, and four stark oxen. His horse carried him so swiftly that nothing outran him.
Deer and hind escaped him not.

Next the hound tracked a wild boar that began to flee. But Siegfried rode up and
barred its path, whereat the monster ran at the knight. He slew him with his sword.
Not so lightly had another done it.

They leashed the hound then and told the Burgundians how Siegfried had
prospered. Whereupon his huntsmen said, "l beg you, leave something alive; you
empty both mountains and forest." And Siegfried laughed.

The noise of the chase was all around them, and hill and wood rang with shouting
and baying of dogs, for the huntsmen had loosed twenty-and-four hounds. Many
a beast perished that day, for each hunter thought to win the prize of the chase.

The hunt was almost over. The sportsmen brought skins and game enough with
them to the camp. No lack of meat for cooking was there.

Then the king told the knights that he would dine. And they blew a blast of horn
that announced that the king was at the campfire.

Said one of Siegfried's huntsmen, "l heard the blast of a horn bidding us back to
the camp. I will answer it." And they kept blowing on the horn as they joined the
company.

Siegfried ordered his men to leave the woods. His horse bore him smoothly, and
the other rode fast behind. The noise roused a grim bear and the knight cried to
them that came after him. "Now for sport. Slip the dog. For I see a bear that shall
go with us to the campfire. He cannot escape us, if he ran ever so fast,"

They slipped the hound; off rushed the bear. Siegfried thought to run him down,
but he came to a ravine and could not get to him; then the bear thought himself
safe. But the proud knight sprang from his horse and pursued him. The beast had
no shelter and was caught by his hand. Ere it could wound him, he had bound it
that it could neither scratch nor bite. Then he tied it to his saddle and, when he
had mounted up himself, he brought it to the fire for pastime.

How right proudly he rode to the camping ground! His spear shone in the light. His
sword hung down to the spur, and his hunting horn was of ruddy gold. Of better
hunting gear I have never heard tell. His coat was black and his hat was goodly.
His quiver was richly laced and covered by a panther's hide for the sake of the
sweet smell. He bore also a bow that none could draw but himself unless with a
windlass. His cloak was a lynx skin, pied from head to foot and embroidered over
with gold on both sides. I think the huntsman was merry and of good cheer. Yet,
to tell you the whole, I must say how his rich quiver was filled with good arrows, gilt
on the shaft, and broad a hand's breath or more. Swift and sure was the death of
him that he smote therewith.

So, the king rode proudly from the forest, and Gunther's men saw him coming and
ran and held his horse.

When he alighted, he loosed the bond from the paws and from the mouth of the
bear that he had bound to his saddle.

As soon as they saw the bear, the dogs began to bark. The animal tried to win
back to the woods, and all the folk felt great fear. Frightened by the noise, it ran
through the kitchen. Nimble stared the cooks from their place but the fire. Pots
were upset and the food was strewn over all. Alack! The good meats that tumbled
into the ashes!

Then up sprang the princes and their men. The bear began to growl, and the king
gave orders to slip the hounds that were on leash.

Hastily, with their bows and spears, the warriors, swift on foot, chased the bear,
but there were so many dogs that none durst shoot among them, and the forest
rang with the din. Then the bear fled before the dogs, and none could pace with
him save Kriemhild's husband, who ran up to him and pierced him dead with his
sword and carried the carcass back with him to the fire. They that saw it said he
was a mighty man.
Then they bade the sportsmen to the table, and they sat down, a goodly
company on a fair meadow. Ha! What dishes, meat for heroes, were set before
them. But the cupbearers that should have brought the wine were tardy. Save for
that, knights were never better served. If there had not been false-hearted men
among them, they would have been without reproach. The doomed man had
no suspicion that might have warned him, for his own heart was pure of all deceit.

Then said Sir Siegfried, "l marvel, since they bring us so much from the kitchen, that
they bring not the wine. If good hunters be treated so, I will hunt no more.
Certainly, I have deserved better at your hands."

Whereto the king at the table answered falsely, "What is lacking today we will
make good another time. The blame is Hagen's that would have us perish of thirst."

Then said Hagen of Trony, “Dear Master, I thought we were to hunt today at
Spessart, and I sent the wine there. For the present we must go thirsty; another
time l will take better care.”

But Siegfried cried, “Small thanks to him. Seven hampers with meat and spiced
wines should he have sent here at least, or, if that might not be, we should have
gone farther to the Rhine.”

Hagen of Trony answered, "I know of a cool spring close at hand. Be not angry
with me, but take my counsel and let us go thither." This was done, to the hurt of
many warriors. Siegfried was sore athirst and pushed back the table that he might
go to the spring at the foot of the mountain. Falsely had the knights contrived it.
The wild beast that Siegfried’s hand had slain they piled on a wagon to take
home, and all who saw it praised Siegfried.

Foully did Hagen break faith with Siegfried. He said, when they were starting for
the broad lime tree, "I hear from all sides that none can keep pace with Kriemhild's
husband when he runs. Let us see now."

Bold Siegfried of the Netherland answered, "You may easily prove it if you run with
me to the brook for a wager. The praise shall be to him who gets there first."

"Let us go then," said Hagen the knight.

And brave Siegfried answered, "If I lose, I will lay me at your feet on the grass." Said
Siegfried further, "Nay, I will undertake more. I will carry on me all that I wear—
spear, shield, and hunting gear." Whereupon he girded on his sword and his quiver
in haste. Then the other took off his clothes till he stood in his white shirt, and they
ran through the clover like two wild panthers; but bold Siegfried was seen there
the first. Before all men he won the prize in everything. He loosed his sword
straightway and laid down his quiver. His good spear he leaned against the lime
tree; then the noble guest stood and waited, for his courtesy was great. He laid
down his shield by the stream. Although he was sore athirst, he drank not till the
king had finished.

The stream was cool, pure, and good. Hagen bent down to the water and rose
again when he had drunk. Siegfried had gladly done the like, but he suffered for
his courtesy. Hagen carried his bow and his sword out of his reach and sprang
back and gripped the spear. Then he looked for the secret mark on Siegfried's
vest; and while Siegfried drank from the stream Hagen stabbed him where the
cross was, and his heart's blood spurted out on the traitor's clothes. Ever since has
knights done so wickedly. He left the spear sticking deep in Siegfried's heart and
fled in great haste.

When bold Siegfried felt the deep wound, he sprang up maddened from the
water, for the long boar spear stuck out from his heart. He thought to find bow or
sword; if he had, Hagen would have got his due. But the sore-wounded man saw
no sword and had nothing except his shield, he picked it up from the water's edge
and ran at Hagen. King Gunther's man could not escape him. For all that he was
wounded to death, he smote so mightily that the shield well-nigh broke, and the
precious stones flew out.

Hagen fell beneath his stroke. The meadow rang loud with the noise of the blow.
If he had his sword to hand, Hagen would have been a dead man. But the
anguish of his wound weakened him. His color was wan; he could not stand
upright; and the strength of his body failed him, for he bore death's mark on his
white cheek.

Then Kriemhild's husband fell among the flowers. The blood flowed fast from his
wound, and in his great anguish he began to upbraid them that had falsely
contrived his death. "False coward!" cried the dying knight. "What availeth all my
services to you, since you have slain me? I was true to you and paid the price for
it. You have done ill by your friends. Cursed by this deed are your sons yet unborn.
You have brought your spite on my body all too bitterly. For your crime ye shall be
shunned by good knights."

All the warriors ran where he lay stabbed. To many among them it was a woeful
day. They that were true mourned for him, which the hero had well deserved of
all men.
The king of Burgundy, also, wept for his death, but the dying man said: "He does
not need to weep for the evil by whom the evil cometh. Better had left it undone,
for much is his blame."

Then said cruel Hagen, "I know not what you lament. All is ended for us—care and
trouble. Few are they know that will withstand us. Glad am I that, through me, his
might is fallen."

"Loudly do you boast now," said Siegfried, "if I had known your murderous hate, it
would have been an easy thing to guard my body from you. My bitterest sorrow
is for Kriemhild, my wife. God pity me that ever l had a son. For all men will
reproach him that he has murderers as his kinsmen. I would grieve for that, had I
the time."

He said to the king, "Never in this world was so foul a murder as you have done on
me. In your sore need l saved your lite and your honor. Dearly have I paid for that
I did well to you." With a groan the wounded man said further, "Yet if you can
show truth to any on this earth, O King, show it to my dear wife, that I commend
to you. Let it advantage her to be your sister. By all princely honor stand by her.
Long must my father and my knights wait for my coming. Never has woman won
such woe through a dear one."

He writhed in his bitter anguish, and spoke painfully, "Ye shall rue this foul deed in
the days to come. Know this of a truth, that in slaying me you have slain
yourselves."

The flowers were all wet with blood. He strove with death, but not for long, for the
weapon of death had cut too deep. And the knight, bold and good, spoke no
more.

When the warriors saw that the hero was dead, they laid him on a shield of ruddy
gold and took counsel how they should conceal that Hagen had done it. Many
of them said, "Evil has befallen us. You shall all hide it and hold to one tale when
Kriemhild's husband was riding alone in the forest, robbers slew him."

But Hagen of Trony said, "l will take him back to Burgundy. If she that hath troubled
Brunhild know it, I care not. It concerneth me little it she weep."