<h2><SPAN name="chap25"></SPAN>Twenty-Fifth Adventure<br/> How the Kings Journeyed to the Huns</h2>
<p>But of their doings there we shall tell no further. High-hearted heroes never
rode so proudly into any king’s land. All that they wanted they had, both
of weapons and apparel. They say that the Prince of the Rhine equipped a
thousand and three score of knights, and nine thousand squires for the
hightide. They that tarried at home were soon to weep for them.</p>
<p>Whilst they carried their harness across the court at Worms, an old bishop from
Spires said to fair Uta, “Our friends will ride to the hightide. God help
them there.”</p>
<p>Then noble Uta said to her children, “Stay here, good heroes. Last night
I dreamed an evil dream, that all the birds in this land were dead.”</p>
<p>“He that goeth by dreams,” said Hagen, “careth little for his
honour. I would have my noble master take leave without delay, and ride forward
merrily into Etzel’s land. There kings need heroes’ hands to serve
them, and we must see Kriemhild’s hightide.”</p>
<p>Hagen counselled them now to the journey, but he rued it later. He had
withstood them, but that Gernot had mocked him. He minded him on Siegfried,
Kriemhild’s husband, and said, “It is for that, that Hagen durst
not go.”</p>
<p>But Hagen said, “I hold not back from fear. If ye will have it so,
heroes, go forward. I am ready to ride with you to Etzel’s land.”
Soon many a helmet and shield were pierced by him.</p>
<p>The ships lay waiting for the kings and their men. They carried their vesture
down to them, and were busy till eventide. Merry of cheer they quitted their
homes. On the camping ground across the Rhine they pitched tents and put up
booths. The king’s fair wife entreated him to stay, for much she loved
him. Flutes and trumpets rang out early in the morning, and gave the signal to
be gone. Many a true lover was torn from his loved one’s arms by King
Etzel’s wife.</p>
<p>King Uta’s sons had a liegeman bold and true. When he saw they would
forth, he spake to the king secretly, “Much I grieve that thou goest to
this hightide.” Rumolt was his name, a chosen knight. He said, “To
whom wilt thou leave thy folk and thy land? Alack! that none can turn you
knights from your purpose! Kriemhild’s message never pleased me.”</p>
<p>“I leave my land and child in thy charge. I will have it so. Comfort them
that thou seest weeping. Etzel’s wife will do us no hurt!”</p>
<p>The king held a council with his chief men or he started. He left not land and
castles defenceless. Many a chosen knight stayed behind to guard them.</p>
<p>The horses stood ready for the kings and their followers. With sweet kisses
parted many whose hearts still beat high. Noble women soon wept for them.
Wailing was there, with tears enow. The queen bare her child in her arms to the
king. “How canst thou leave us both desolate? Stay for our sake,”
said the sorrowful woman.</p>
<p>“Weep not for me, but be of good cheer here at home. We shall return
shortly, safe and sound.”</p>
<p>So they waited no longer, but lovingly took leave of their friends. When the
bold knights were gotten to horse, many women stood sorrowing. Their hearts
told them it was a long parting. None is merry of his cheer when bitter woe is
at hand.</p>
<p>The swift Burgundians rode off, and there was hurrying in the land. On either
side the mountains both men and women wept. But, for all the folk could do,
they pressed forward merrily. A thousand of the Nibelung knights in habergeons
went with them, that had left fair women at home, the which they never saw
more. The wounds of Siegfried gaped in Kriemhild’s heart.</p>
<p>The Christian faith was still weak in those days. Nevertheless they had a
chaplain with them to say mass. He returned alive, escaped from much peril. The
rest tarried dead among the Huns. Gunther’s men shaped their course
toward the Main, up through East Frankland. Hagen led them, that knew the way
well. Their Marshal was Dankwart, the knight of Burgundy. As they rode from
East Frankland to Schwanfeld, the princes and their kinsmen, knights of
worship, were known by their stately mien.</p>
<p>On the twelfth morning the king reached the Danube. Hagen of Trony rode in
front of the rest. He was the helper and comforter of the Nibelungs. The bold
knight alighted there on the bank, and tied his horse to a tree. The river was
swoln, there was no boat, and the knights were troubled how to win across. The
water was too wide. Many a bold knight sprang to the ground.</p>
<p>“Mischief might easily befall thee here, King of Rhineland,” said
Hagen; “thou canst see for thyself that the river is swoln, and the
current very strong. I fear me we shall lose here to-day not a few good
knights.”</p>
<p>“Wherefore daunt me, Hagen?” said the proud king. “Of thy
charity fright us no more. Look out a ford for us, that we bring both horses
and baggage safe across.”</p>
<p>“I am no so weary of life,” said Hagen, “that I desire to
drown in these broad waves. Many a man in Etzel’s land shall first fall
by my hand. That is more to my mind. Stay by the water side, ye proud knights
and good, and I will seek the ferrymen by the river, that will bring us safe
into Gelfrat’s land.”</p>
<p>Thereupon stark Hagen took his good shield. He was well armed. He bare his
buckler. He laced on his shining helmet. He wore a broad weapon above his
harness, that cut grimly with both its edges.</p>
<p>Then he sought the ferrymen up and down. He heard the splash of water and began
to listen. It came from mermaidens that bathed their bodies in a clear brook to
cool them.</p>
<p>Hagen spied them, and stole up secretly. When they were ware of him, they fled.
Well pleased were they to escape him. The hero took their garments, but did
them no further annoy.</p>
<p>Then one of the mermaids (she hight Hadburg) said, “We will tell thee,
noble Hagen, if thou give us our clothes again, how ye shall all fare on this
journey among the Huns.”</p>
<p>They swayed like birds in the water before him. He deemed them wise and worthy
of belief, so that he trusted the more what they told him. They informed him
concerning all that he asked them. Hadburg said, “Ye may ride safely into
Etzel’s land; I pledge my faith thereon, that never yet heroes journeyed
to any court to win more worship. I say sooth.”</p>
<p>Hagen’s heart was uplifted at her word; he gave them back their clothes
and stayed no longer. When they had put on their wonderful raiment, they told
him the truth about the journey.</p>
<p>The other mermaid, that hight Sieglind, said, “Be warned, Hagen, son of
Aldrian. My aunt hath lied to thee because of her clothes. If ye go to the
Huns, ye are ill-advised. Turn while there is time, for ye bold knights have
been bidden that ye may die in Etzel’s land. Who rideth thither hath
death at his hand.”</p>
<p>But Hagen said, “Your deceit is vain. How should we all tarry there,
dead, through the hate of one woman?”</p>
<p>Then they began to foretell it plainer, and Hadburg said also, “Ye are
doomed. Not one of you shall escape, save the king’s chaplain: this we
know for a truth. He, only, shall return alive into Gunther’s
land.”</p>
<p>Grimly wroth spake bold Hagen then. “It were a pleasant thing to tell my
masters that we must all perish among the Huns! Show us a way across the water,
thou wisest of womankind.”</p>
<p>She answered, “Since thou wilt not be turned from the journey, up yonder
by the river standeth an inn. Within it is a boatman; there is none
beside.”</p>
<p>He betook him thither to ask further. But the mermaidens cried after the
wrothful knight, “Stay, Sir Hagen. Thou art too hasty. Hearken first
concerning the way. The lord of this march hight Elsy. The name of his brother
is Gelfrat, a prince in Bavaria. It might go hard with thee if thou wentest
through his march. Look well to thyself, and proceed warily with the boatman.
He is so grim of his mood that he will kill thee, if thou speak him not fair.
If thou wouldst have him ferry thee across, give him hire. He guardeth this
land, and is Gelfrat’s friend. If he come not straightway, cry across the
river to him that thou art Amelrich; he was a good knight, that a feud drove
from this land. The boatman will come when he heareth that name.”</p>
<p>Proud Hagen thanked the women for their warning and their counsel, and said no
more. He went up the river’s bank, till he came to an inn that stood on
the far side. He began to shout across the water, “Boatman, row me over,
and I will give thee, for thy meed, an armlet of red gold. I must
across.”</p>
<p>The boatman was so rich that he needed not to serve for hire, and seldom took
reward from any. His men also were overweening, and Hagen was left standing on
the bank of the river.</p>
<p>Thereupon he shouted so loud that all the shore rang with it. He was a stark
man. “Row across for Amelrich. I am Elsy’s liegeman, that, for a
feud, fled the country.” He swung the armlet aloft on his sword—it
was of red gold, bright and shining—that they might ferry him over to
Gelfrat’s march. At this the haughty boatman himself took the oar, for he
was greedy and covetous of gain, the which bringeth oft to a bad end. He
thought to win Hagen’s red gold, but won, in lieu thereof, a grim death
by his sword.</p>
<p>He rowed over to the shore with mighty strokes. When he found not him that had
been named, he fell into a fury; he saw Hagen, and spake wrothfully to the
hero, “Thy name may be Amelrich, but, or I err greatly, thy face is none
of his. By one father and one mother he was my brother. Since thou hast
deceived me, thou canst stay where thou art.”</p>
<p>“Nay, for the love of God,” said Hagen. “I am a stranger
knight that have the charge of other warriors. Take thy fee and row me over,
for I am a friend.”</p>
<p>But the boatman answered, “I will not. My dear masters have foemen,
wherefore I must bring no stranger across. If thou lovest thy life, step out on
to the shore again.”</p>
<p>“Nay now,” said Hagen, “I am sore bested. Take, as a
keepsake, this goodly gold, and ferry us over with our thousand horses and our
many men.”</p>
<p>But the grim boatman answered, “Never!” He seized an oar, mickle
and broad, and smote Hagen (soon he rued it), that he staggered and fell on his
knees. Seldom had he of Trony encountered so grim a ferryman. Further, to anger
the bold stranger, he brake a boat-pole over his head, for he was a strong man.
But he did it to his own hurt.</p>
<p>Grimly wroth, Hagen drew a weapon from the sheath, and cut off his head, and
threw it on the ground. The Burgundians were soon ware of the tidings.</p>
<p>In the same moment that he slew the ferryman, the boat was caught by the
current, which irked him no little, for he was weary or he could bring her head
round, albeit Gunther’s man rowed stoutly. With swift strokes he sought
to turn it, till the oar brake in his hand. He strove to reach the knights on
the strand, but had no other oar. Ha! how nimbly he bound it together with the
thong of his shield, a narrow broidered band, and rowed to a wood down the
river.</p>
<p>There he found his masters waiting on the beach. Many a valiant knight ran to
meet him, and greeted him joyfully. But when they saw the boat full of blood
from the grim wound he had given the ferryman, they began to question him.</p>
<p>When Gunther saw the hot blood heaving in the boat, he said quickly,
“Tell me what thou hast done with the ferryman. I ween he hath fallen by
thy strength.”</p>
<p>But he answered with a lie, “I found the boat by a waste meadow, and
loosed it. I have seen no ferryman this day, nor hath any suffered hurt at my
hand.”</p>
<p>Then said Sir Gernot of Burgundy, “I am heavy of my cheer because of the
dear friends that must die or night, for boatmen we have none. Sorrowfully I
stand, nor know how we shall win over.”</p>
<p>But Hagen cried, “Lay down your burdens on the grass, ye squires. I was
the best boatman by the Rhine, and safe, I trow, I shall bring you into
Gelfrat’s land.”</p>
<p>That they might cross the quicker, they drave in the horses. These swam so well
that none were drowned, albeit a few, grown weary, were borne down some length
by the tide. Then they carried their gold and harness on board, since they must
needs make the passage. Hagen was the helmsman, and steered many a gallant
knight to the unknown land. First he took over a thousand, and thereto his own
band of warriors. Then followed more: nine thousand squires. The knight of
Trony was not idle that day. The ship was huge, strongly built and wide enow.
Five hundred of their folk and more, with their meats and weapons, it carried
easily at a time. Many a good warrior that day pulled sturdily at the oar.</p>
<p>When he had brought them safe across the water, the bold knight and good
thought on the strange prophecy of the wild mermaids. Through this the
king’s chaplain came nigh to lose his life. He found the priest beside
the sacred vessels, leaning with his hand upon the holy relics. This helped him
not. When Hagen saw him, it went hard with the poor servant of God. He threw
him out of the ship on the instant. Many cried, “Stop, Hagen,
stop!” Giselher, the youth, was very wroth, but Hagen ceased not, till he
had done him a hurt.</p>
<p>Then stark Gernot of Burgundy said, “What profiteth thee the
chaplain’s death, Hagen? Had another done this, he had paid dear for it.
What hast thou against the priest?”</p>
<p>The chaplain swam with all his might. He had gotten on board again had any
helped him. But none could do it, for stark Hagen pushed him fiercely under.
None approved his deed.</p>
<p>When the poor man saw that they would not aid him, he turned and made for the
shore. He was in sore peril. But, albeit he could not swim, the hand of God
upbore him, that he won safe to the dry land again. There he stood, and shook
his clothes.</p>
<p>By this sign Hagen knew there was no escape from what the wild women of the sea
had foretold. He thought, “These knights be all dead men.”</p>
<p>When they had unloaded the ship, and brought all across that belonged to the
three kings, Hagen brake it in pieces and threw these on the water. Much the
bold knights marvelled thereat.</p>
<p>“Wherefore dost thou so, brother?” said Dankwart. “How shall
we get over when we ride home from the Huns to the Rhine?”</p>
<p>Hagen told him, after, that that would never be, but for the meantime he said,
“I did it a-purpose. If we have any coward with us on this journey, that
would forsake us in our need, he shall die a shameful death in these
waves.”</p>
<p>They had with them one from Burgundy, a hero of great prowess, that hight
Folker, and that spake with mocking words all his mind. And whatso Hagen did,
this fiddler approved.</p>
<p>When the king’s chaplain saw the ship hewn up, he cried across the water
to Hagen, “What had I done to thee, false murderer, that, without cause,
thou wouldst have drowned me?”</p>
<p>Hagen answered, “Hold thy peace. By my troth, and in sober earnest, it
irketh me that thou hast escaped.”</p>
<p>Said the poor priest, “I will praise God evermore. Little I fear thee
now, rest assured. Fare forward to the Huns, and I will to the Rhine. God grant
thou comest never back again. That is my prayer, for well-nigh hadst thou
killed me.”</p>
<p>But King Gunther said to his chaplain, “I will more than make good to
thee what Hagen hath done in his anger, if I win back alive. Have no fear. Go
home, for so it needs must be now. Bear a greeting to my dear wife, and my
other kinsfolk. Tell them the good tidings: that, so far, all is well.”</p>
<p>The horses stood ready, the sumpters were laden. As yet they had suffered no
scathe by the way, save the king’s chaplain, that had to return to the
Rhine afoot.</p>
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