XVII

Sure ne'er was reconcilement 'twixt friends too long apart By such full tears cemented; her loss she took to heart, Yet all concern'd she pardon'd, all, save only one.

Never had been the murder, if not by Hagan done.

XVIII

'Twas no long time thereafter when this device they wrought, That from the land of Nibelung should to the Rhine be brought By the command of Kriemhild the wondrous treasure bright; 'Twas her morning-gift at marriage and so was hers by right.

XIX

For it the youthful Giselher and eke good Gernot went; Eighty hundred warriors with them their sister sent, To bring it from the mountain, where close conceal'd it lay, Watch'd by the stout dwarf Albric and his best friends alway.

XX

When now came the Burgundians the precious h.o.a.rd to take, Albric, the faithful keeper, thus his friends bespake: "This far renowned treasure we can't withhold, I ween, The marriage-morning present claim'd by the n.o.ble queen.

XXI

"Yet should they have it never, nor should we thus be cross'd, Had we not the good cloud-cloak to our misfortune lost Together with Sir Siegfried, who gain'd it here of yore; For Kriemhild's n.o.ble husband the same at all times wore.

XXII

"Now ill, alas! has happ'd it to Siegfried the good knight, That from us the cloud-cloak he took by conquering might, And all this land to serve him as lord and master bound."

Then went the chamberlain sadly, where soon the keys he found.

XXIII

And now the men of Kriemhild before the mountain stood, And some, too, of her kinsmen; the h.o.a.rd, as best they could, Down to the sea they carried; there in good barks 'twas laid, Thence o'er the waves, and lastly up the Rhine convey'd.

XXIV

The tale of that same treasure might well your wonder raise; 'Twas much as twelve huge wagons in four whole nights and days Could carry from the mountain down to the salt-sea bay, If to and fro each wagon thrice journey'd every day.

XXV

It was made up of nothing but precious stones and gold; Were all the world bought from it, and down the value told, Not a mark the less thereafter were left, than erst was scor'd.

Good reason sure had Hagan to covet such a h.o.a.rd.

XXVI

And there among was lying the wishing-rod of gold, Which whoso could discover, might in subjection hold All this wide world as master, with all that dwell therein.

There came to Worms with Gernot full many of Albric's kin.

XXVII

When Gernot and young Giselher had thus possession gain'd Of that power-giving treasure, the rule they straight obtain'd Of the country and the castles and many a warlike knight; All was constrained to serve them through terror of their might.

XXVIII

When they had brought the treasure thence to King Gunther's land, And had their charge delivered into fair Kriemhild's hand, Cramm'd were the towers and chambers wherein the same they stor'd.

Ne'er told was tale of riches to match this boundless h.o.a.rd.

XXIX

Yet had she found the treasure a thousand-fold as great, Could she have seen but Siegfried restored to life's estate, Bare as her hand had Kriemhild preferr'd with him to live, Renouncing all the puissance which all that h.o.a.rd could give.

x.x.x

Now she had gain'd possession, so liberal was the dame, That foreign knights unnumber'd into the country came.

All prais'd her generous virtues, and own'd they ne'er had seen Lady so open-handed as this fair widow'd queen.

x.x.xI

To rich and poor together began she now to give; Thereat observed Sir Hagan, "If she should chance to live Some little season longer, so many should we see Won over to her service, that ill for us 'twould be."

x.x.xII

Thereto made answer Gunther, "The h.o.a.rd is hers alone; How can I check her giving? She gives but from her own.

Scarce could I gain forgiveness for my offence of old.

I care not how she scatters her jewels and ruddy gold."

x.x.xIII

"A prudent man," said Hagan, "not for a single hour Would such a ma.s.s of treasure leave in a woman's power.

She'll hatch with all this largess to her outlandish crew Something that hereafter all Burgundy may rue."

x.x.xIV

Thereto replied King Gunther, "An oath to her I swore, That I would ne'er offend her nor harm her any more; And I'm resolv'd to keep it; my sister too is she."

At once Sir Hagan answer'd, "Then lay the blame on me."