Page:The lay of the Nibelungs; (IA nibelungslay00hortrich).pdf/81

I.]

Dankwart, he was the Marshal, his nephew Ortwein bore

The office of High Sewer, in that proud court of yore;

Sir Sindold was Cup-bearer, and a bold knight men say,

The Chamberlain was Hunold; all honourable they.

Of all this courtly service, and of their far-famed might,

And of the worth and valour of each heroic knight,

And of their life as courtiers, through all their joyous days,

To give a true account were beyond my simple lays.

Meanwhile, amid this splendour, the maid Kriemhilda dreamed

That she had reared a falcon,— strong, fair and wild he seem’d—

And that two eagles rent him before her very eyes;—

No worse grief could life bring her in any evil guise.

Quick to her mother Uté she told the vision dread,—

Who, after her own manner, the dream interpreted:

“This falcon of thy rearing, thy noble husband he,—

And now may God defend him, or he is lost to thee!”

“What sayest thou of husbands, O dearest mother mine?

Never for hero’s wooing shall I, your daughter, pine!

Spotless and fair would I be, as now, unto my death;—

I would forego the sorrow that lurks man’s love beneath.”

“Forswear not Love thus lightly,” her mother answer gave,

“If heart’s joy ever reach thee in life, as women crave,

Through man’s love thou must gain it;— thou wert a seemly bride

If God do not deny thee a good knight at thy side.”