Page:The lay of the Nibelungs; (IA nibelungslay00hortrich).pdf/367

XXVII.]

Anon he gave to Gunther, that hero of great fame,

What he, the mighty monarch, might well wear without shame—

Though gifts he took but seldom— a coat of mail, to wit.

O’er Rüdeger’s hand did Gunther bow low in thanks for it.

Then gave he unto Gernot a sword, a good one too,

Which afterwards in battle right gallantly he drew:

That such a gift he gave him well pleased the margrave’s wife.

’Twas doom’d to cost, soon after, good Rüdeger his life.

Gotlinda offer’d Hagen, as courteous custom bade,

Some tokens of her kindness, since such the king had had,

Lest he without her aidance should on his road be sped

Unto the royal revels; but this he soon gainsaid.

“Of all the things that ever I saw,” so Hagen spake,

“Not one have I more envy hence as my own to take,

Than yonder shield that hanging upon the wall I see:

That would I gladly carry to Etzel’s land with me.”

The margravine no sooner had heard what Hagen said,

Than bygone woes were waken’d, and tears she needs must shed.

Upon the death of Nudung she sorrowfully thought,

How Witege had slain him: thus grief upon her wrought.

She spake unto the warrior: “I’ll give the shield to thee,

But would to God in Heaven that still alive were he

Who on his arm once bare it! In fight he was laid low,

And I must aye bewail him: hence comes, poor me, my woe!”