Page:The lay of the Nibelungs; (IA nibelungslay00hortrich).pdf/64

lx were eyes enough red with hot tears; it was the last gift which Rudiger of Bechelaren gave to any Recke. As grim as Hagen was, and as hard of mind, he wept at this gift which the hero good, so near his last times, had given him; full many a noble Ritter began to weep.”

At last Volker is slain; they are all slain, save only Hagen and Gunther, faint and wounded, yet still unconquered among the bodies of the dead. Dietrich the wary, though strong and invincible, whose Recken too, except old Hildebrand, he now finds are all killed, though he had charged them strictly not to mix in the quarrel, at last arms himself to finish it. He subdues the two wearied Nibelungen, binds them, delivers them to Chriemhild; “and Herr Dietrich went away with weeping eyes, worthily from the heroes.” These never saw each other more. Chriemhild demands of Hagen, Where the Nibelungen Hoard is? But he answers her, that he has sworn never to disclose it, while any of her brothers live. “I bring it to an end,” said the infuriated woman; orders her brother’s head to be struck off, and holds it up to Hagen. “‘Thou hast it now according to thy will,’ said Hagen; ‘of the Hoard knoweth none but God and I; from thee, she-devil (valendinne), shall it forever be hid.’” She kills him with his own sword, once her husband’s; and is herself struck dead by Hildebrand, indignant at the woe she has wrought; King Etzel, there present, not opposing the deed. Whereupon the curtain drops over that wild scene: “the full highly honoured were lying dead; the people all had sorrow and lamentation; in grief had the king’s feast ended, as all love is wont to do:”

Ine chan iu nicht bescheiden Waz sider da geschach,

Wan ritter unde wrouven Weinen man do sach,

Dar-zuo die edeln chnechte Ir lieben vriunde tot:

Da hat das mære ein ende: Dis ist der Nibelunge not.

I cannot say you now What hath befallen since;

The women all were weeping, And the Ritters and the prince,

Also the noble squires, Their dear friends lying dead:

Here hath the story ending; This is the Nibelungen’s Need.