Page:The lay of the Nibelungs; (IA nibelungslay00hortrich).pdf/251

XVII]

Then in her sorrow cried she, that fair and gentle queen:

“Woe on mine evil fortune! Upon thy shield is seen

No dint of any sword-stroke: thou liest murder’d there.

And wist I who hath done it, of death mote he be ware.”

Thereon all her attendants began to wail and weep: With their belovéd lady, their grief indeed was deep

About their noble master, of whom they were forlorn.

Thus heavily had Hagen made good Brunhilda’s scorn.

Then sorrowfully spake she: “Go hence now, all of ye,

And waken Siegfried’s liegemen as quickly as may be.

And unto Siegmund also my sorrow must ye tell,

If so be he will help me to mourn brave Siegfried well.”

A messenger ran swiftly and found them where they lay,—

Siegfried’s own band of heroes from Niblung land were they.—

He told the grievous tidings, and joy fled at his word;

Yet would they not believe it till they the wailing heard.

The messenger sped further to where he found the king.

Unto the noble Siegmund that night no sleep did bring;

His heart within foreboded what happ’d to him, I ween:

How that his dear son living should never more be seen.

“Awake, arise, Lord Siegmund! Kriemhilda, my mistress,

Hath bidden me to fetch thee; to her a sore distress

Hath happ’d beyond all others, which cuts her to the heart:

And thou must help her mourning, for thou in it hast part.”