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Adventure XVII
How Siegfried Lived in Nibelungen Land.
When the twelve-days' high-tide at King Gunther's
home-coming had been brought to an end, and the guests had
all gone to their homes, Siegfried, too, prepared to bid
farewell to the Rhineland kings, and to wend to his own
country. But he was not to go alone; for Kriemhild, the
peerless princess, was to go with him as his bride. They had
been wedded during the merry festivities which had just
closed, and that event had added greatly to the general joy;
for never was there a fairer or a nobler pair than Siegfried
the fearless, and Kriemhild the peerless.
"It grieves my heart to part with you," said Gunther,
wringing Siegfried's hand. "It will fare but ill with us, I
fear, when we no longer see your radiant face, or hear your
cheery voice."
"Say not so, my brother," answered Siegfried; "for the gods
have many good things in store for you. And, if ever you
need the help of my arm, you have but to say the word, and I
will hasten to your aid."
Then the Burgundian kings besought the hero to take the
fourth part of their kingdom as his own and Kriemhild's, and
to think no more of leaving them. But Siegfried would not
agree to this. His heart yearned to see his father and
mother once again, and then to return to his own loved
Nibelungen Land. So he thanked the kings for their kind
offer, and hastened to make ready for his intended journey.
Early on Midsummer Day the hero and his bride rode out of
Gunther's dwelling, and turned their faces northward. And
with them was a noble retinue of warriors,--five hundred
brave Burgundians, with Eckewart as their chief,--who had
sworn to be Queen Kriemhild's vassals in her new,
far-distant home. Thirty and two fair maidens, too, went
with her. And with Siegfried were his Nibelungen earls.
As the company rode down the sands, and filed gayly along
the river-road, it seemed a lovely although a sad sight to
their kinsmen who gazed after them from the castle-towers.
Fair and young were all the folk; and the world, to most,
was still untried. And they rode, in the morning sunlight,
away from their native land, nor recked that never again
would they return. Each warrior sat upon a charger, richly
geared with gilt-red saddle, and gorgeous bridle, and
trappings of every hue; and their war-coats were bright and
dazzling; and their spears glanced in the sun; and their
golden shields threw rays of resplendent light around them.
The maidens, too, were richly dight in broidered cloaks of
blue, and rare stuffs brought from far-off Araby; and each
sat on a snow-white palfrey geared with silken housings, and
trappings of bright blue.
For some days the company followed the course of the river,
passing through many a rich meadow, and between lovely
vineyards, and fields of yellow corn. Then they rode over a
dreary, barren waste, and through a wild greenwood, and
reached, at last, the hills which marked the beginning of
King Siegmund's domains. Then Siegfried sent fleet heralds
before them to carry to his father the tidings of his coming
with his bride, fair Kriemhild. Glad, indeed, were old King
Siegmund and Siegfried's gentle mother when they heard this
news.
"Oh, happy is the day!" cried the king. "Thrice happy be the
day that shall see fair Kriemhild a crowned queen, and
Siegfried a king in the throne of his fathers!"
And they showered upon the heralds who had brought the happy
news rich fees of gold and silver, and gave them garments of
silken velvet. And on the morrow they set out, with a train
of earl-folk and lovely ladies, to meet their son and his
bride. For one whole day they journeyed to the old fortress
of Santen, where in former days the king's dwelling had
been. There they met the happy bridal-party, and fond and
loving were the hearty greetings they bestowed upon
Kriemhild and the radiant Siegfried. Then, without delay,
they returned to Siegmund's kingly hall; and for twelve days
a high tide, more happy and more splendid than that which
had been held in Burgundy, was made in honor of Siegfried's
marriage-day. And, in the midst of those days of sport and
joyance, the old king gave his crown and sceptre to his son;
and all the people hailed Siegfried, king of the broad
Lowlands, and Kriemhild his lovely queen.
Old stories tell how Siegfried reigned in peace and glad
contentment in his fatherland; and how the joyous sunshine
shone wherever he went, and poured a flood of light and
warmth and happiness into every nook and corner of his
kingdom; and how, at length, after the gentle Sigelind had
died, he moved his court to that other country of his,--the
far-off Nibelungen Land. And it is in that strange,
dream-haunted land, in a strong-built mountain fortress,
that we shall next find him.
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