Page:The lay of the Nibelungs; (IA nibelungslay00hortrich).pdf/39

Rh Chriemhild, this world’s-wonder, a king’s daughter and king’s sister, and no less coy and proud than fair, dreams one night that “she had petted a falcon, strong, beautiful and wild; which two eagles snatched away from her: this she was forced to see; greater sorrow felt she never in the world.” Her mother, Ute, to whom she relates the vision, soon redes it for her; the falcon is a noble husband, whom, God keep him, she must suddenly lose. Chriemhild declares warmly for the single state; as, indeed, living there at the Court of Worms, with her brothers, Gunther, Gernot, Giselher, “three kings noble and rich,” in such pomp and renown, the pride of Burgunden-land and Earth, she might readily enough have changed for the worse. However, dame Ute bids her not be too emphatical; for “if ever she have heartfelt joy in life, it will be from man’s love, and she shall be a fair wife (wip), when God sends her a right worthy Ritter’s lip.” Chriemhild is more in earnest than maidens usually are when they talk thus; it appears, she guarded against love, “for many a lief-long day;” nevertheless, she too must yield to destiny. “Honourably she was to become a most noble Ritter’s wife.” “This,” adds the old Singer, “was that same falcon she dreamed of: how sorely she since revenged him on her nearest kindred! For that one death died full many a mother’s son.”

It may be observed, that the Poet here, and at all times, shows a marked partiality for Chriemhild; ever striving, unlike his fellow singers, to magnify her worth, her faithfulness and loveliness; and softening, as much as may be, whatever makes against her. No less a favourite with him is Siegfried, the prompt, gay, peaceably fearless hero; to whom, in the Second Aventiure, we