The Story of Siegfried Page 16

  "Enough!"

  This time Sindre drew out a wondrous ring of solid gold, sparkling allover with the rarest and most costly jewels.

  "This is the ring Draupner," said he. "It is well worthy to be worn onOdin's finger. Every ninth day eight other rings, equal to it in everyway, shall drop from it. It shall enrich the earth, and make the desertblossom as the rose; and it shall bring plentiful harvests, and fill thefarmers' barns with grain, and their houses with glad good cheer. Takeit to the All-Father as the best gift of the earth-folk to him and tomankind."

  After this the dwarfs took iron which had been brought from themountains of Norse Land; and, after beating it upon their bellows untilit glowed white and hot, Sindre threw it into the furnace.

  "This shall be the gift of gifts," said he to Brok. "Ply the bellowsas before, and do not, for your life, stop or falter until the work isdone."

  But as Brok blew the bellows, and his brother gazed into the glowingfire, the horse-fly came again. This time he settled between the dwarf'seyes, and stung his eyelids until the blood filled his eyes, and randown his cheeks, and blinded him so that he could not see. At last,in sore distress, and wild with pain, Brok let go of the bellows, andlifted his hand to drive the fly away. Then Sindre drew his work out ofthe furnace. It was a blue steel hammer, well made in every way, savethat the handle was half an inch too short.

  "This is the mighty Mjolner," said Sindre to Loki, who had again takenhis proper shape. "The Thunderer may have the hammer that you promisedhim; although it is our gift, and not yours. The stoutest giant will notbe able now to cope with Thor. No shield nor armor, nor mountain-wall,nor, indeed, any thing on earth, shall be proof against thelightning-strokes of Mjolner."

  And Brok took the three treasures which Sindre had fashioned, and wentwith Loki to Asgard, the home of the Asa-folk. And they chose Odin andThor and Frey to examine and judge which was best,--Loki's three gifts,the work of Ivald's sons; or Brok's three gifts, the work of Sindre.When the judges were seated, and all were in readiness, Loki wentforward and gave to Odin the spear Gungner, that would always hitthe mark; and to Frey he gave the ship Skidbladner, that would sailwhithersoever he wished. Then he gave the golden hair to Thor, whoplaced it upon the head of fair Sif; and it grew there, and was athousand-fold more beautiful than the silken tresses she had wornbefore.

  After the Asas had carefully looked at these treasures, and talked oftheir merits, little Brok came humbly forward and offered his gifts. ToOdin he gave the precious ring Draupner, already dropping richness. ToFrey he gave the boar Golden Bristle, telling him that wherever he choseto go this steed would serve him well, and would carry him faster thanany horse, while his shining bristles would light the way on the darkestnight or in the gloomiest path. At last he gave to Thor the hammerMjolner, and said that it, like Odin's spear, would never miss the mark,and that whatever it struck, it would crush in pieces, and whithersoeverit might be hurled, it would come back to his hand again.

  Then the Asas declared at once that Thor's hammer was the best of allthe gifts, and that the dwarf had fairly won the wager. But, whenBrok demanded Loki's head as the price of the wager, the cunningMischief-maker said,--

  "My head is, by the terms of our agreement, yours; but my neck is myown, and you shall not on any account touch or harm it."[EN#26]

  So Brok went back to his brother and his smithy without the head ofLoki, but he was loaded with rich and rare presents from the Asa-folk.

  Adventure XVI. How Brunhild Was Welcomed Home.

  When the next morning's sun arose, and its light gilded the mountainpeaks, and fell in a flood of splendor down upon the rich uplands andthe broad green fields of Nibelungen Land, Siegfried, with his earls andmighty men, rode through the valley, and down to the seashore. There apleasant sight met his eyes: for the little bay was white with the sailsof a hundred gold-beaked vessels which lay at anchor; and on the sandybeach there stood in order three thousand island warriors,--the bravestand the best of all the Nibelungens,--clad in armor, and ready to hearand to do their master's bidding. And Siegfried told them why he hadthus hastily called them together; and he gave to each one rich giftsof gold and jewels and costly raiment. Then he chose from among themone thousand of the most trustworthy, who should follow him back toIsenland; and these went aboard the waiting vessels, amid the cheersand the farewells of their comrades who were left behind. And when everything was in readiness, the anchors were hoisted and the sails were set,and the little fleet, wafted by pleasant winds, sailed out of the bay,and eastward across the calm blue sea. And Siegfried's vessel, with agolden dragon banner floating from the masthead, led all the rest.

  On the fourth day after Siegfried's departure from Isenland, Dankwartand grim old Hagen sat in a room of the castle at Isenstein. Outside andbelow they heard the fair-haired warriors of Queen Brunhild pacing toand fro, and ready, at a word, to seize upon the strangers, and eitherto put them to death, or to drive them forever from the land.Old Hagen's brows were closely knit, and his face was dark as athunder-cloud, and his hands played nervously with his sword-hilt, as hesaid,--

  "Where now is Gunther, the man whom we once called king?"

  "He is standing on the balcony above, talking with the queen and hermaidens," answered Dankwart.

  "The craven that he is!" cried Hagen hoarsely. "Once he was a king, andworthy to be obeyed; but now who is the king? That upstart Siegfried hasbut to say what shall be done, and our master Gunther, blindly and likea child, complies. Four days ago we might have taken ship, and sailedsafely home. Now our vessel is gone, the boasted hero is gone, andnothing is left for us to do but to fight and die."

  "But we are sure of Odin's favor," returned Dankwart; and a wild lightgleamed from his eyes, and he brandished his sword high over his head."A place in Valhal is promised to us; for, him who bravely dies withhis blood-stained sword beside him and his heart unrent with fears, theAll-Father's victory-wafters will gently carry home. Even now, methinks,I sit in the banqueting-hall of the heroes, and quaff the flowing mead."

  * * * * *

  In the mean while Gunther stood with Queen Brunhild at an upper window,and looked out upon the great sea that spread forever and away towardsthe setting sun. And all at once, as if by magic, the water was coveredwith white-sailed ships, which, driven by friendly winds and the helpinghands of AEgir's daughters and the brawny arms of many a stalwartoarsman, came flying towards the bay.

  "What ships are those with the snow-white sails and the dragon-stems?"asked Brunhild, wondering.

  Gunther gazed for a moment towards the swift-coming fleet, and his eyeswere gladdened with the sight of Siegfried's dragon-banner floating fromthe vessel in the van. A great load seemed lifted from his breast,for now he knew that the hoped-for help was at hand. And, smiling heanswered the queen,--

  "Those white-sailed ships are mine. My body-guard--a thousand of mytrustiest fighting-men--are on board, and every man is ready to die forme."

  And as the vessels came into the harbor, and the sailors furled thesails, and cast the anchors into the sea, Siegfried was seen standing onthe golden prow of his ship, arrayed in princely raiment, with his earlsand chiefs around him. And their bright armor glittered in the sunlight,and their burnished shields shone like so many golden mirrors. A fairersight had the folk of Isenstein never seen.

  Long and earnestly Queen Brunhild gazed, and then, turning away, sheburst into tears; for she knew that she had been again outwitted, andthat it was vain for her to struggle against the Norns' decrees. Then,crushing back the grief and the sore longing that rose in her heart, shespoke again to Gunther, and her eyes shone stern and strange.

  "What now will you have me do?" she asked; "for you have fairly wonme, and my wayward fancies shall no longer vex you. Shall I greet yourfriends with kindness, or shall we send them back again over the sea?"

  "I pray you give them welcome to the broad halls of Isenstein," heanswered; "for no truer, nobler men live than these my liegemen."

  So the queen
sent word to Siegfried and his Nibelungen warriors to leavethe ships and come ashore. And she herself, as radiant now as a morningin May, went down to meet them and welcome them. Then she had a greatfeast made in honor of the heroes, and the long, low-raftered feast-hallrang with the sounds of merriment, instead of with the clash of arms.The fair-haired, blue-eyed warriors of the queen sat side by side withthe tall strangers from over the sea. And in the high-seat was Brunhild,her face exceeding pale, yet beauteous to behold; and by her side satGunther, smiling and glad, and clad in his kingly raiments. And aroundthem were the earls and chieftains, and many a fair lady of Isenland,and Hagen, smiling through his frowns, and Dankwart, now grown fearless,and Siegfried sad and thoughtful. Mirth and gladness ruled the hour, andnot until the morning star began to fade in the coming sunlight lid theguests retire to rest.

  Only a few days longer did the heroes tarry in Isenland; for the mildspring days were growing warmer, and all faces were southward turned,and the queen herself was anxious to haste to her South-land home. When,at last, the time for leave-taking came, the folk of Isenland gatheredaround to bid their queen Godspeed. Then Brunhild called to Dankwart,and gave him her golden keys, and bade him unlock her closets where hergold and jewels were stored, and to scatter with hands unstinted hertreasures among the poor. And many were the tearful blessings, and manythe kind words said, as the radiant queen went down to the waiting,white-winged vessel, and stepped aboard with Gunther and the heroes ofthe Rhine. But she was not to go alone to the land of strangers; forwith her were to sail a hundred fair young damsels, and more thanfourscore noble dames, and two thousand blue-eyed warriors, the bravestof her land.

  When all had gone on board the waiting fleet, the anchors were hoisted,and the sails were unfurled to the breeze; and amid the tearfulfarewells of friends, and the joyful shouting of the sailors, thehundred heavy-laden vessels glided from the bay, and were soon far outat sea. And the sorrowing folk of Isenland turned away, and went back totheir daily tasks, and to the old life of mingled pain and pleasure, ofshadow and sunshine; and they never saw their loved warrior-queen again.

  The gay white fleet, with its precious cargo of noble men and fairladies, sped swiftly onwards through Old AEgir's kingdom; and it seemedas if Queen Ran had forgotten to spread her nets, so smooth and quietwas the sea; and the waves slept on the peaceful bosom of the waters:only Ripple and Sky-clear danced in the wake of the flying ships, andadded to the general joy. And on shipboard music and song enlivened thedragging hours; and from morn till eve no sounds were heard, save thoseof merriment and sport, and glad good cheer. Yet, as day after daypassed by, and no sight met their eyes but the calm blue waters beneath,and the calm blue sky above, all began to wish for a view, once more, ofthe solid earth, and the fields, and the wild greenwood. But the shipssailed steadily onward, and every hour brought them nearer and nearer tothe wished-for haven.

  At length, on the ninth day, they came in sight of a long, flat coast,stretching far away towards the Lowlands, where Old AEgir and hisdaughters--sometimes by wasting warfare, sometimes by stealthystrategy--ever plot and toil to widen the Sea-king's domains. When thesailors saw the green shore rising up, as it were, out of the quietwater, and the wild woodland lying dense and dark beyond, and when theyknew that they were nearing the end of their long sea-voyage, they rentthe air with their joyful shouts. And a brisker breeze sprang up, andfilled the sails, and made the ships leap forward over the water, likeglad living creatures.

  It was then that the thought came to King Gunther that he ought to sendfleet heralds to Burgundy-land to make known the happy issue of hisbold emprise, and to tell of his glad home-coming, with Brunhild, thewarrior-maiden, as his queen. So he called old Hagen to him, and toldhim of his thoughts, and asked him if he would be that herald.

  "Nay," answered the frowning chief. "No bearer of glad tidings am I. Toevery man Odin has given gifts. To some he has given light hearts, andcheery faces, and glad voices; and such alone are fitted to carry goodnews and happy greetings. To others he has given darker souls, and lesslightsome faces, and more uncouth manners; and these may bear the bruntof the battle, and rush with Odin's heroes to the slaughter: but theywould be ill at ease standing in the presence of fair ladies, or tellingglad tidings at court. Let me still linger, I pray, on board this narrowship, and send your friend Siegfried as herald to Burgundy-land. He iswell fitted for such a duty."

  So Gunther sent at once for Siegfried, to whom, when he had come, hesaid,--

  "My best of friends, although we are now in sight of land, our voyagestill is a long one; for the river is yet far away, and, when it isreached, its course is winding, and the current will be against us, andour progress must needs be slow. The folk at home have had no tidingsfrom us since we left them in the early spring; and no doubt theirhearts grow anxious, and they long to hear of our whereabouts, andwhether we prosper or no. Now, as we near the headland which juts outdark and green before us, we will set you on shore, with the nobleGreyfell, and as many comrades as you wish, to haste with all speed toBurgundy, to tell the glad news of our coming to the loved ones waitingthere."

  Siegfried at first held back, and tried to excuse himself fromundertaking this errand,--not because he felt any fear of danger, butbecause he scorned to be any man's thrall, to go and do at his beck andbidding. Then Gunther spoke again, and in a different tone.

  "Gentle Siegfried," he said, "if you will not do this errand for mysake, I pray that you will undertake it for the sake of my sister, thefair Kriemhild, who has so long waited for our coming."

  Then willingly did the prince agree to be the king's herald. And on themorrow the ship touched land; and Siegfried bade his companions a shortfarewell, and went ashore with four and twenty Nibelungen chiefs,who were to ride with him to Burgundy. And, when every thing was inreadiness, he mounted the noble Greyfell, as did also each warrior hisfavorite steed, and they galloped briskly away; and their glitteringarmor and nodding plumes were soon lost to sight among the green treesof the wood. And the ship which bore Gunther and his kingly partyweighed anchor, and moved slowly along the shore towards the distantriver's mouth.

  For many days, and through many strange lands, rode Siegfried and hisNibelungen chiefs. They galloped through the woodland, and over a stonywaste, and came to a peopled country rich in farms and meadows, anddotted with pleasant towns. And the folk of that land wondered greatlyat sight of the radiant Siegfried, and the tall warriors with him, andtheir noble steeds, and their sunbright armor. For they thought that itwas a company of the gods riding through the mid-world, as the gods werewont to do in the golden days of old. So they greeted them with smiles,and kind, good words, and scattered flowers and blessings in their way.

  They stopped for a day in Vilkina-land, where dwelt one Eigill, afamous archer, who, it is said, was a brother of Veliant, Siegfried'sfellow-apprentice in the days of his boyhood. And men told them thisstory of Eigill. That once on a time old Nidung, the king of that land,in order to test his skill with the bow, bade him shoot an apple, or, assome say, an acorn, from the head of his own little son. And Eigilldid this; but two other arrows, which he had hidden beneath his coat,dropped to the ground. And when the king asked him what these were forhe answered, "To kill thee, wretch, had I slain my child."[EN#27]

  After this our heroes rode through a rough hill-country, where theground was covered with sharp stones, and the roads were steep and hard.And their horses lost their shoes, and were so lamed by the travel,that they were forced to turn aside to seek the house of one Welland, afamous smith, who re-shod their steeds, and entertained them mostkindly three days and nights. And it is said by some that Welland is butanother name for Veliant, and that this was the selfsame foreman whom weknew in Siegfried's younger days. But, be this as it may, he was at thistime the master of all smiths, and no one ever wrought more cunningly.And men say that his grandfather was Vilkinus, the first king of thatland; and that his grandmother, Wachitu, was a fair mermaid, who livedin the deep green sea; and that his
father, Wada, had carried him,when a child, upon his shoulders through water five fathoms deep, toapprentice him to the cunning dwarfs, from whom he learned his trade.And if this story is true, he could not have been Veliant. He was weddedto a beautiful lady, who sometimes took the form of a swan, and flewaway to a pleasant lake near by, where, with other swan-maidens, shespent the warm summer days among the reeds and the water-lilies. Andmany other strange tales were told of Welland the smith: how he had oncemade a boat from the single trunk of a tree, and had sailed in it allaround the mid-world; how, being lame in one foot, he had forged awondrous winged garment, and flown like a falcon through the air;and how he had wrought for Beowulf, the Anglo-Saxon hero, a gorgeouswar-coat that no other smith could equal.[EN#28] And so pleasantly didWelland entertain his guests that they were loath to leave him; but onthe fourth day they bade him farewell, and wended again their way.

  Now our heroes rode forward, with greater speed than before, across manya mile of waste land, and over steep hills, and through pleasant woodeddales. Then, again, they came to fair meadows, and broad pasture-lands,and fields green with growing corn; and every one whom they met blessedthem, and bade them a hearty God-speed. Then they left the farmlandsand the abodes of men far behind them; and they passed by the shore of asparkling lake, where they heard the swan-maidens talking to each otheras they swam among the rushes, or singing in silvery tones of gladnessas they circled in the air above. Then they crossed a dreary moor, wherenothing grew but heather; and they climbed a barren, stony mountain,where the feet of men had never been, and came at last to a wild, darkforest, where silence reigned undisturbed forever.