How Siegfried fared to his Knights, the Nibelungen

482

Thence went then Siegfried / out through the castle door
In his sightless mantle / to a boat upon the shore.
As Siegmund's son doth board it / him no mortal sees;
And quickly off he steers it / as were it wafted by the breeze

483

No one saw the boatman, / yet rapid was the flight
Of the boat forth speeding / driven by Siegfried's might.
They weened that did speed it / a swiftly blowing wind:
No, 'twas Siegfried sped it, / the son of fairest Siegelind

484

In that one day-time / and the following night
Came he to a country / by dint of mickle might,
Long miles a hundred distant, / and something more than this:
The Nibelungen were its people / where the mighty hoard was his.

485

Alone did fare the hero / unto an island vast
Whereon the boat full quickly / the gallant knight made fast.
Of a castle then bethought him / high upon a hill,
And there a lodging sought him, / as wayworn men are wont to still.

486

Then came he to the portals / that locked before him stood.
They guarded well their honor / as people ever should
At the door he gan a-knocking, / for all unknown was he.
But full well 'twas guarded, / and within it he did see

487

A giant who the castle / did guard with watchful eye,
And near him did at all times / his good weapons lie.
Quoth he: " Who now that knocketh / at the door in such strange wise? "
Without the valiant Siegfried / did cunningly his voice disguise.

488

He spake: " A bold knight-errant / am I; unlock the gate.
Else will I from without here / disturbance rare create
For all who'd fain lie quiet / and their rest would take. "
Wrathful grew the Porter / as in this wise Siegfried spake.

489

Now did the giant valorous / his good armor don,
And placed on head his helmet; / then the full doughty man
His shield up-snatched quickly / and gate wide open swung.
How sore was he enraged / as himself upon Siegfried he flung!

490

" How dared he thus awaken / brave knights within the hall?"
The blows in rapid showers / from his hand did fall.
Thereat the noble stranger / began himself to shield
For so a club of iron / the Porter's mighty arm did wield,

491

That splinters flew from buckler, / and Siegfried stood aghast
From fear that this same hour / was doomed to be his last,
So mightily the Porter's / blows about him fell.
To find such faithful warder / did please his master Siegfried well.

492

So fiercely did they struggle / that castle far within
And hall where slept the Nibelungen / echoed back the din.
But Siegfried pressed the Porter / and soon he had him bound.
In all the land of Nibelungen / the story soon was bruited round.

493

When the grim sound of fighting / afar the place had filled,
Alberich did hear it, / a Dwarf full brave and wild.
He donned his armor deftly, / and running thither found
This so noble stranger / where he the doughty Porter bound.

494

Alberich was full wrathy, / thereto a man of power.
Coat of mail and helmet / he on his body wore,
And in his hand a heavy / scourge of gold he swung.
Where was fighting Siegfried, / thither in mickle haste he sprung.

495

Seven knobs thick and heavy / on the club's end were seen,
Wherewith the shield that guarded / the knight that was so keen
He battered with such vigor / that pieces from it brake.
Lest he his life should forfeit / the noble stranger gan to quake.

496

The shield that all was battered / from his hand he flung;
And into sheath, too, thrust he / his sword so good and long.
For his trusty chamberlain / he did not wish to slay,
And in such case he could not / grant his anger fullest sway.

497

With but his hands so mighty / at Alberich he ran.
By the beard then seized he / the gray and aged man,
And in such manner pulled it / that he full loud did roar.
The youthful hero's conduct / Alberich did trouble sore.

498

Loud cried the valiant steward: / " Have mercy now on me.
And might I other's vassal / than one good hero's be,
To whom to be good subject / I an oath did take,
Until my death I'd serve thee. " / Thus the man of cunning spake.

499

Alberich then bound he / as the giant before
The mighty arm of Siegfried / did trouble him full sore.
The Dwarf began to question: / " Thy name, what may it be? "
Quoth he: " My name is Siegfried; / I weened I well were known to thee. "

500

" I joy to hear such tidings, " / Dwarf Alberich replied.
" Well now have I found thee / in knightly prowess tried,
And with goodly reason / lord o'er lands to be.
I'll do whate'er thou biddest, / wilt thou only give me free. "

501

Then spake his master Siegfried: / " Quickly shalt thou go,
And bring me knights hither, / the best we have to show,
A thousand Nibelungen, / to stand before their lord. "
Wherefore thus he wished it, / spake he never yet a word.