Page:The Nibelungenlied - tr. Shumway - 1909.pdf/72

14 divide the hoard. Eagerly they asked it, and the lord in turn gan vow it to them.

“He beheld such store of gems, as we have heard said, that a hundred wains might not bear the lead; still more was there of ruddy gold from the Nibelung land. All this the hand of the daring Siegfried should divide. As a guerdon they gave him the sword of Nibelung, but they were served full ill by the service which the good knight Siegfried should render them. Nor could he end it for them; angry of mood they grew. Twelve bold men of their kith were there, mighty giants these. What might that avail them! Siegfried’s hand slew them soon in wrath, and seven hundred warriors from the Nibelung land he vanquished with the good sword Balmung. Because of the great fear that, many a young warrior had of the sword and of the valiant man, they made the land and its castles subject to his hand. Likewise both the mighty kings he slew, but soon he himself was sorely pressed by Alberich. The latter weened to venge straightway his masters, till he then discovered Siegfried’s mighty strength; for no match for him was the sturdy dwarf. Like wild lions they ran to the hill, where from Alberich he won the Cloak of Darkness. Thus did Siegfried, the terrible, become master of the hoard; those who had dared the combat, all lay there slain. Soon bade he cart and bear the treasure to the place from whence the men of Nibelung had borne it forth. He made Alberich, the strong, warden of the hoard and bade him swear an oath to serve him as his knave; and fit he was for work of every sort.”

So spake Hagen of Troneg: “This he hath done.