Page:The Nibelungenlied - tr. Shumway - 1909.pdf/397

Rh Siegstab is Dietrich’s nephew. He also appears in the Thidreksaga, but in a different rôle.

Wolfwin is mentioned in the Klage, 1541, as Dietrich’s nephew.

Wolfbrand and Helmnot appear only here.

Ritschart. With the exception of Helfrich (see note 1 to page 302), these names do not occur elsewhere, though one of the sons of Haimon was called Wichart.

Waskstone, see note 1 to page 277.

fall. The word nôt, translated here full, means really ‘disaster,’ but as this word is not in keeping with the style, fall has been chosen as preferable to ‘need,’ used by some translators, The MS. C has here liet instead of nôt of A and B.

The Nibelungenlied is continued by the so-called Klage, a poem written in short rhyming couplets. As the name indicates, it describes the lamentations of the survivors over the dead. The praises of each warrior are sung and a messenger dispatched to acquaint Gotelind, Uta, and Brunhild with the sad end of their kinsmen. It closes with Dietrich’s departure from Etzel’s court and his return home. Although in one sense a continuation of our poem, the Klage is an independent work of no great merit, being exessively tedious with its constant repetitions. A reprint and a full account of it will be found in Piper’s edition of our poem, vol. 1.