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Adventure XIV
How Gunther Outwitted Brunhild.
While still the festivities were at their height, an old man
of noble mien, and with snow-white beard and hair, came into
the great hall, and sang for the gay company. And some
whispered that this must be Bragi, for surely such rare
music could not be made by any other. But he sang not of
spring, as Bragi does, nor yet of youth nor of beauty, nor
like one whose home is with the song-birds, and who lives
beside the babbling brooks and the leaping waterfalls. His
song was a sorrowful one,--of dying flowers, and falling
leaves, and the wailing winds of autumn, of forgotten joys,
of blasted hopes, of a crushed ambition, of gray hairs, of
uttering footsteps, of old age, of a lonely grave. And, as
he sang, all were moved to tears by the mournful melody and
the sad, sad words.
"Good friend," said Siegfried, "thy music agrees not well
with this time and place; for, where nothing but mirth and
joy are welcome, thou hast brought sorrowful thoughts and
gloomy forebodings. Come, now, and undo the harm thou hast
done, by singing a song which shall tell only of mirth and
gladness."
The old man shook his head, and answered, "Were I Bragi; as
some think I am, or were I even a strolling harper, I might
do as you ask. But I am neither, and I know no gladsome
songs. Men have called me a messenger of ill omen; and such,
indeed, I have sometimes been, although through no wish of
my own. I come as a herald from a far-off land, and I bear a
message to all the kings and the noblest chiefs of
Rhineland. If King Gunther will allow me, I will now make
that message known."
"Let the herald speak on," said Gunther graciously.
"Far over the sea," said the herald, "there lies a dreamy
land called Isenland; and in that land there is a glorious
castle, with six and eighty towers, built of purest marble,
green as grass. In that castle there lives the fairest of
all Earth's daughters, Brunhild, the maiden of the
spring-time. In the early days she was one of Odin's
Valkyrien; and with other heavenly maidens it was her duty
to follow, unseen, in the wake of armies, and when they met
in battle to hover over the field, and with kisses to waken
the dead heroes, and lead their souls away to Odin's glad
banquet-hall. But upon a day she failed to do the
All-Father's bidding, and he, in anger, sent her to live
among men, and like them to be short-lived, and subject to
old age and death. But the childless old king of Isenland
took pity upon the friendless maiden, and called her his
daughter, and made her his heir. Then Odin, still more
angered, sent the thorn of sleep to wound the princess. And
sleep seized upon every creature in Isenland, and silence
reigned in the halls of the marble palace. For Odin said,
'Thus shall they all sleep until the hero comes, who will
ride through fire, and awaken Brunhild with a kiss.'
"At last the hero so long waited for came. He passed the
fiery barrier safe, and awoke the slumbering maiden; and all
the castle sprang suddenly into life again. And Brunhild
became known once more as the most glorious princess in this
mid-world. But the sun-bright hero who freed her from her
prison of sleep vanished from Isenland, and no one knew
where he went; but men say that he rides through the noble
world, the fairest and the best of kings. And Brunhild has
sought for him in many lands; and, although all folk have
heard of his deeds, none know where he dwells. And so, as a
last resort, she has sent heralds into every land to
challenge every king to match his skill with hers in three
games of strength,--in casting the spear, in hurling the
heavy stone, and in leaping. The one who can equal her in
these feats shall be king of Isenland, and share with her
the throne of Isenstein. And by this means she hopes to find
the long-absent hero; for she believes that there is no
other prince on earth whose strength and skill are equal to
her own. Many men have already risked their lives in this
adventure, and all have failed.
"And now, King Gunther," continued the herald, "I have come
by her orders into Rhineland, and I deliver the challenge to
you. If you accept, and are beaten, your life is forfeited.
If you succeed, the fairest kingdom and the most beautiful
queen in the world are yours; for you will have proved that
you are at least the equal of the hero whom she seeks. What
reply shall I carry back to Isenland?"
King Gunther answered hastily, and as one dazed and in a
dream, "Say that I accept the challenge, and that when the
spring-time comes again, and the waters in the river are
unlocked, I shall go to Isenland, and match my skill and
strength with that of the fair and mighty Brunhild."
All who stood around were greatly astonished at Gunther's
reply; for, although his mind was somewhat weak, he was not
given to rash and hazardous undertakings. And Siegfried, who
was at his side, whispered, "Think twice, friend Gunther,
ere you decide. You do not know the strength of this mighty
but lovely warrior-maiden. Were your strength four times
what it is, you could not hope to excel her in those feats.
Give up this hasty plan, I pray you, and recall your answer
to the challenge. Think no more of such an undertaking, for
it surely will cost you your life."
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