The Podcast of the Lotus Eaters - PREVIEW： Chronicles #16 ｜ The Nibelungenlied Part 1

00:00:00.000 Hello, ladies and gentlemen, and welcome to Chronicles, where today we're going to be

00:00:19.400 talking all about the Nibelungenlied by an unknown poet, very much like the Beowulf poet as well.

00:00:27.680 We don't know who actually wrote this, but what I can tell you about it is that it is estimated to have

00:00:34.040 been written between the late 12th century and the early 13th century, so about 1200 AD, and it is

00:00:42.880 one of the most famous and influential pieces of German literature of all time, of course hailing

00:00:51.600 from the height of the medieval period. And the Nibelungenlied is a very, very interesting story,

00:01:00.760 because not only is it written very much in the style of people like Thomas of Britain

00:01:07.980 and Christiane de Troyes, who wrote many of the Arthurian romances. But what's more, it has one

00:01:16.340 of the most dark and sinister stories of revenge I've ever read. In fact, this story for many

00:01:25.540 centuries disappeared after the medieval era and was rediscovered by a local German man back in about

00:01:33.720 1755. And so since then, since its rediscovery over many, many centuries, it became known as

00:01:41.540 something of the Northern Iliad. This is how the Germans, of course, framed it themselves,

00:01:47.500 wanting to be very, very proud of their own achievements. Although I don't think that many

00:01:52.980 people would say that it is, on par with the Iliad itself, I would say it is still a remarkable

00:02:00.400 achievement, and gives a great window into the fusion of myth and legend and history.

00:02:09.120 All of these coming together in the understanding of Germanic peoples and their own history. Because

00:02:17.380 a lot of the characters in this, unlike in Beowulf, where really the only character who has any real

00:02:25.620 historical grounding is Higalak, the King of the Gaets, in this, many of the characters are inspired by

00:02:34.560 real historical figures. Now, this doesn't mean at all that the things that they do in the novel,

00:02:41.780 in the work, are one-for-one replications of the actual historical accounts of these people.

00:02:49.800 But they do represent a very, very interesting image of the oral tradition of storytelling,

00:02:57.280 passing down from the Germanic migration period, between about 300 and 600, both from the

00:03:06.780 end, the wavering end of the Western Roman Empire, and into the start of the Dark Ages, before we have

00:03:14.500 any actual written works of epic Germanic poetry, that came about in Germany in about 830, with the

00:03:25.960 Hildebrander Lied, which is a tale all about Hildebrand. But as it says here, we have the

00:03:32.400 Nibelungenlied. So it is the lay of the Nibelungs. It's a song of their tragedy, of their fate, of their

00:03:40.880 doom. And what's also interesting about this story as well, is that in addition to a very, very strong

00:03:49.000 written work for the German people as well, you also have a remarkably strong tradition with Old

00:03:57.880 Norse. When you look at Norse works, such as the Volsunga Saga, and the Poetic Ada, both compiled 0.94

00:04:07.040 after the Nibelungenlied was actually published by about 70 years or so, in some cases, there is a

00:04:14.740 remarkable amount of overlap between the events of this and the events of the Norse counterparts.

00:04:21.720 Now, the Norse counterparts are a more extensive story. If the Nibelungenlied begins with the tale of

00:04:31.360 Siegfried, one of the main characters of this, then the Norse version starts right back in the depths of

00:04:40.260 time, with the pagan gods themselves, with Odin and Loki and the dwarves and this ring of Anvari. 0.72

00:04:49.380 And many of these things will go on to be immortalised in the remarkable, famous work of Richard Wagner

00:04:56.640 in his Ring Cycle, in which he lays out this grand 15-hour opera in four parts, where he goes through

00:05:06.540 the beginning of the Nibelung treasure, right? It's a treasure of the Nibelung people. This keeps getting

00:05:12.820 passed down the generations, and the treasure in it is actually cursed. Although, as we'll see when I read

00:05:20.080 this version, the treasure is still present, but less important than it is in the Norse version.

00:05:28.480 And so I will absolutely get round to discussing such things as the Volsunga Saga and the Poetic Ada

00:05:37.320 in the future, but I have one or two guests that I'd really like to rope in for that. So, for the time being,

00:05:45.220 let us talk all about the Nibelunglied. And just to say as well, what I've done for this particular set of

00:05:53.940 Chronicles, the events of the Nibelunglied are so epic. It's so eventful. It's so packed with action

00:06:02.660 and characters and plot and deception that what I've done is I've split the story into two parts. So,

00:06:10.940 in this episode, we'll talk all about part one. And in the next episode, we'll talk about part two.

00:06:17.620 Obviously, you can all count to two. So, we'll begin with the events and the story of part one.

00:06:33.100 Our story begins with these words.

00:06:36.340 We have been told in ancient tales many marvels of famous heroes, of mighty toils,

00:06:42.560 joys, and high festivities, of weepings and wailings, and the fighting of bold warriors,

00:06:49.320 of such things you can now hear wonders unending.

00:06:53.380 In the land of the Burgundians, there grew up a maiden of high lineage,

00:06:58.860 so fair that none in any land could be fairer.

00:07:03.060 Her name was Creamhild. 0.90

00:07:05.680 She came to be a beautiful woman, causing many knights to lose their lives.

00:07:10.360 This charming girl was as if made for love's caresses.

00:07:14.460 She was desired by brave fighting men, and none was her enemy.

00:07:19.260 For graces did the young lady possess that she was the adornment of her sex. 1.00

00:07:24.580 She was in the care of three great and noble kings,

00:07:28.300 the renowned warriors Gunther and Guernot, and young Gisela, a splendid knight.

00:07:34.240 And she was sister to these princes, who had the charge of her.

00:07:37.920 Living in the magnificence of Burgundy, Creamhild dreamt she feared a falcon,

00:07:44.420 strong, handsome, and wild, but that two eagles rent it while she perforce looked on,

00:07:51.140 the most grievous thing that could ever befall her.

00:07:54.880 Her mother, Ute, interprets her dream as a foreshadowing of mortal sorrow.

00:08:01.140 Creamhild is destined to lose a mighty husband. 1.00

00:08:04.020 Why do you talk to me of a man, dear mother?

00:08:08.100 I intend to stay free of a warrior's love all my life.

00:08:11.820 I mean to keep my beauty till I die,

00:08:14.920 and never be made wretched by the love of any man.

00:08:19.660 Down the Rhine, in the splendid, far-famed city of Xanten,

00:08:23.500 in the Netherlands, they grew up a royal prince,

00:08:27.320 a gallant knight named Siegfried, son of Siegmund.

00:08:31.480 In the panoply of wealth and warriors, the boy grew up without want.

00:08:36.600 When Siegfried came of age, he was knighted in midsummer,

00:08:40.240 and mass was sung unto the glory of God.

00:08:43.020 A day came when tales of Creamhild's beauty reached Siegfried.

00:08:47.120 The brave prince was well endowed to win the hearts of lovely women,

00:08:50.360 but seeing that he aspired to a constant love,

00:08:53.640 his kinsmen and vassals counseled him to woo a lady of suitable standing.

00:08:59.020 There, Siegfried declared,

00:09:01.280 I shall take Creamhild, the fair maiden of Burgundy. 0.96

00:09:04.760 King Siegmund seeks to dissuade his son of this youthful endeavour,

00:09:08.900 remarking on the protective nature of Creamhild's brothers.

00:09:11.980 But Siegfried is unyielding,

00:09:15.260 and his doting father provides him with all the advantages his son may need for his success.

00:09:21.140 A week later, Siegfried's valiant company rode to Gunther's land.

00:09:26.620 Upon their arrival, King Gunther asks his brother Hagen the identity of these mysterious knights.

00:09:34.020 Hagen then provides a lengthy tale of Siegfried's deeds.

00:09:37.260 He had, in ages past, felled a mighty dragon,

00:09:41.740 and bathing in its blood, his skin had become impenetrable.

00:09:46.500 What's more, he had vanquished Nibelung and other princes, 0.97

00:09:51.020 who had sought claim for the dragon's plunder.

00:09:55.300 And so, with many bodies slain about him,

00:09:58.540 Siegfried accrued a hoard of the dragon's wealth,

00:10:01.880 taking it back to the Netherlands,

00:10:04.540 where he ruled with his father in a mighty empire.

00:10:07.980 The men of Burgundy ask of Siegfried's intentions,

00:10:10.980 This I shall not hide from you.

00:10:13.580 I was told repeatedly, in my father's country,

00:10:16.560 that the bravest warriors that King ever had were to be found with you,

00:10:20.840 and I have come to see for myself.

00:10:23.340 I have also heard such war-like qualities ascribe to you,

00:10:27.040 that a more valiant prince was never seen.

00:10:29.880 Nor shall I desist until I know the truth of it.

00:10:32.540 I, too, am a warrior, and am entitled to wear a crown,

00:10:37.840 but I wish to achieve the reputation of possessing a land and people in my own sole right,

00:10:44.080 for which my head and honour shall pledge.

00:10:47.240 Now, since you are so brave, and I do not care who minds,

00:10:51.720 I will wrest from you by force all that you possess.

00:10:55.500 Your lands and your castles shall all be subject to me.

00:10:59.500 King Gunther and his court are alarmed by such unprovoked aggression.

00:11:04.040 Gernot justly asks why such conflict is necessary,

00:11:08.120 when there would be small honour for them, and little reward for the prince.

00:11:13.040 Tactfully, the Burgundians welcome Siegfried and his men to their keep.

00:11:17.940 Whilst guesting in Worms, Siegfried accompanies its lords to their hunts and feasts.

00:11:24.120 But, in all the time he stays at King Gunther's court,

00:11:27.700 he never so much as catches a glance of Krimhild.

00:11:31.980 In time, Siegfried has been their guest for an entire year,

00:11:36.100 when tidings reach Gunther's lands of the sovereigns of Saxony and Denmark's desire to make war on his people.

00:11:44.240 Mighty Gunther is deeply downcast, but, after holding council,

00:11:48.760 he marshals his men, and Siegfried offers his sword, Baumung, in defence of Gunther's realm.

00:11:54.940 The war is a great victory for the Burgundians, who bring the two foreign kings back as prisoners of war.

00:12:02.960 And Siegfried returns to a hero's welcome.

00:12:06.660 There is a great feast, in honour of King Gunther's allies,

00:12:10.360 and it is during these celebrations that Siegfried first meets Lady Krimhild.

00:12:14.820 She emerges like the dawn from the dark clouds.

00:12:18.960 He sees the adorable maiden standing there.

00:12:21.900 In all her splendour, her beauty is unmatched.

00:12:25.540 And she greets him becomingly.

00:12:28.260 You are welcome, Lord Siegfried, noble knight, said she.

00:12:33.060 Siegfried's spirit soared at this greeting, and he bowed his devoted thanks.

00:12:37.560 Then she took him by the hand, and how ardently did this lord walk beside the lady,

00:12:44.380 exchanging tender looks with her in secret.

00:12:47.340 Soon they share each and every day in one another's company,

00:12:51.020 and their shared joy and admiration blossoms into love.

00:12:55.360 Fresh tidings soon arrive in the kingdom, not of war, but of beauty.

00:13:00.060 In distant Iceland, a powerful queen rules from her fortress of Eisenstein.

00:13:07.120 Brunhild is her name, a shield maiden of colossal strength and will. 0.98

00:13:12.980 And King Gunther elects to tame her spirit and take her to be his wife.

00:13:18.000 And thus it is that Gunther, Siegfried, Hagen, and Danquart sail for Iceland.

00:13:24.060 Gunther's resolve and recognition of the chances of failure leads him to make a pact with noble Siegfried.

00:13:32.520 If Siegfried will aid him in winning Brunhild, then the king will assent to Siegfried marrying Kriemhild.

00:13:39.140 It is agreed upon, and, entering Brunhild's realm, she greets Siegfried as first of his company.

00:13:46.120 Yet the knight corrects her, and proclaims that he serves the Rhinish king.

00:13:50.420 Brunhild declares that if Gunther means to claim her, then he shall have to best her in a contest of strength.

00:13:58.660 Should Gunther lose, then his life, and the life of his companions, will be forfeit.

00:14:05.040 Brunhild's strength was clearly tremendous, for they brought a heavy boulder to the ring for her, round and of monstrous size.

00:14:13.460 Twelve lusty warriors could barely carry it.

00:14:16.340 And this she would always hurl after throwing her javelin.

00:14:21.080 The Burgundian's fears rose high at the sight of it.

00:14:24.520 Mercy on us, said Hagen.

00:14:27.420 What sort of a lover has the king got here? 0.99

00:14:30.180 Rather, she should be the devil's drab in hell. 1.00

00:14:33.620 But the men of the Rhine mean to play a game of deception. 0.90

00:14:36.700 Siegfried has in his possession a cloak of invisibility, that he gained from the dwarf Albaric.

00:14:44.260 So it is that as Gunther goes through the motions, Siegfried does the deeds.

00:14:49.900 The valiant knight hurls his javelin and boulder, further than the shield maiden can match,

00:14:55.280 and completes his victory by leaping beyond what he can even throw, even as he is carrying Gunther in his arms.

00:15:03.480 Brunhild is astonished, but holds to a word and pledges to marry King Gunther.

00:15:09.240 She merely asks for some time so that she may appoint trusted men to govern in her name in Iceland,

00:15:15.420 before departing for her new life in Burgundy. 0.75

00:15:18.080 During this time, Siegfried employs his magic cloak once more to sneak down to their ship

00:15:24.840 and bring back men from his realm in Nibelungenland,

00:15:29.020 as a precaution, if Brunhild means to double-cross them.

00:15:33.040 Their ships are unmoored, and they sail for home.

00:15:36.300 Brunhild arrives in Worms to a city in jubilance.

00:15:40.520 All are eager to gaze upon their new queen.

00:15:43.440 Lady Creamhild comes forward with great elegance. 0.92

00:15:46.400 Welcome to my mother and to me, here in this country, and to all the loyal friends we have.

00:15:53.100 The city is aglow with revelry and mirth, none more so than in the heart of Siegfried,

00:15:58.280 who finally receives the blessing of Gunther to marry Creamhild.

00:16:02.540 The two couples retire to their respective beg chambers, 0.79

00:16:06.220 and we are told that Lord Siegfried's pastime was to his vast contentment.

00:16:11.060 For as he lay with a young lady and inured her so tenderly in his noble loves,

00:16:16.660 she became as dear to him as life, and he would not have exchanged her for a thousand others.

00:16:22.940 But for King Gunther, his knight is only characterized by humiliation.

00:16:28.860 When he attempts to touch Brunhild, she resists his advances,

00:16:32.140 and as Gunther more forcefully tries to assert his will,

00:16:37.020 Brunhild wrestles with the king, binds him with her own girdle,

00:16:41.060 and hangs him from the wrists upon his own wall.

00:16:44.420 She had put a stop to his lovemaking.

00:16:47.880 As to him, he all but died, such strength that she exerted.

00:16:52.800 When Brunhild awakens the next morning,

00:16:55.140 she bargains her chastity with the king,

00:16:57.360 and removes him from the wall.

00:17:00.140 Gunther later confides in Siegfried,

00:17:03.060 who has proven his loyalty countless times over,

00:17:06.400 and is now amongst Gunther's closest friends.

00:17:09.820 The two conspire to use the magic cloak again,

00:17:12.720 so that night, when the candles go out and the room darkens,

00:17:17.000 Siegfried tries to tame the will of Brunhild. 0.57

00:17:20.140 But even the mightiest knight struggles.

00:17:23.040 She took tremendous revenge on him for having ruffled her clothes.

00:17:26.420 What could his huge strength avail him?

00:17:29.440 She showed him that her might was the greater,

00:17:32.440 for she carried him with irresistible force,

00:17:35.520 and rammed him between the wall and the coffer.

00:17:38.260 Alas, thought the hero,

00:17:40.000 if I now lose my life to a girl, 0.99

00:17:42.620 the whole sex will grow uppish with their husbands forever after, 1.00

00:17:46.680 though they would otherwise never behave so.

00:17:49.560 Summoning all of his strength,

00:17:51.600 Siegfried bests her,

00:17:52.700 and, believing herself bested by her husband Gunther,

00:17:56.880 she declares,

00:17:57.640 I shall make ample amends for all I have done to you,

00:18:01.140 and shall never again repel your noble advances,

00:18:04.540 since I have found to my cost

00:18:06.280 that you know well how to master a woman.

00:18:09.860 Siegfried then leaves Gunther to his knight,

00:18:13.680 but in a fateful decision,

00:18:15.560 he takes with him a single ring from Brunhild's hand,

00:18:19.120 as well as her girdle.

00:18:22.400 In those days,

00:18:23.600 it seems that all was just and well.

00:18:26.340 The realms of Burgundy and the Netherlands were on good terms,

00:18:30.060 both Gunther and Siegfried each had the wife of their desires,

00:18:33.640 and the strength of these great men enforced peace.

00:18:37.380 After many years,

00:18:38.780 Siegfried decides it is time to return to his own kingdom with his wife,

00:18:43.080 so that she might meet her father-in-law, King Siegmund.

00:18:45.940 In time, a son is born from the union of Fair Krimhild and her gallant husband.

00:18:52.460 But back in Burgundy,

00:18:54.260 Brunhild's restlessness mounts.

00:18:56.860 If Siegfried is Gunther's vassal,

00:18:59.000 as she had been informed,

00:19:00.920 why does he not come pay homage?

00:19:03.660 And if Siegfried is Gunther's vassal,

00:19:06.040 then how can he possibly give away his own sister to him?

00:19:09.680 If such a claim was false,

00:19:11.580 what other deceptions has she been subjected to? 1.00

00:19:14.580 Eventually, King Gunther relents,

00:19:17.880 as she insists that Siegfried must return with his wife,

00:19:21.340 as she simply misses them so dearly.

00:19:24.260 So, King Siegmund, with Siegfried and Krimhild,

00:19:27.780 travel to Burgundy,

00:19:29.360 where they are once more heralded as friends.

00:19:32.680 Alas, then,

00:19:33.520 that their arrival marks the beginnings

00:19:35.500 of unnumbered sorrows of many a brave knight.

00:19:39.400 Brunhild presses Krimhild

00:19:40.680 on which of their husbands is a superior warrior.

00:19:44.320 And in the course of their debate,

00:19:46.100 Krimhild confirms Brunhild's fears.

00:19:48.780 Not only is Lord Siegfried not subservient to Gunther,

00:19:52.640 but by way of the ring,

00:19:54.360 she presents Brunhild with conclusive proof

00:19:56.780 that she has been deceived,

00:19:59.060 and her honour besmirched.

00:20:00.840 Both Gunther and Siegfried deny all knowledge of such a ruse,

00:20:06.140 but conspiracy now abounds.

00:20:08.480 Many a knight professes a desire to kill noble Siegfried

00:20:11.980 for the dishonour he has brought upon the queen.

00:20:14.500 Thus, those warriors declared themselves his enemies,

00:20:17.820 though he had done them no wrong.

00:20:20.320 Yet none followed Altwin's proposal,

00:20:23.120 except Hagen kept putting it to Gunther

00:20:25.720 that if Siegfried was no more,

00:20:28.400 Gunther would be lord of many kingdoms,

00:20:31.740 at which Gunther grew very despondent.

00:20:35.160 The king followed his vassals' advice to evil effect,

00:20:38.700 and those rare knights began to set afoot

00:20:40.940 the great betrayal before any might discover it,

00:20:43.940 so that, thanks to the wranglings of two women, 1.00

00:20:47.440 countless warriors met their doom.

00:20:50.900 Gunther and Hagen devise a plan

00:20:52.960 to have false news of war brought to court.

00:20:56.300 With wretched deceit,

00:20:57.980 Hagen then approaches Krimhild

00:20:59.780 and asks that she might trust him

00:21:02.020 to know Siegfried's weaknesses,

00:21:04.360 so that he may protect his brother-in-arms

00:21:06.920 from deathly peril.

00:21:08.640 Krimhild's choice to trust Hagen

00:21:10.440 will haunt her until her last day,

00:21:13.380 as she explains that when her husband

00:21:15.320 bathed in the blood of the dragon,

00:21:17.580 a leaf landed on his back

00:21:19.680 between his shoulder blades,

00:21:21.160 and sews a cross upon his tunic,

00:21:24.040 so that Hagen knows precisely where to guard.

00:21:29.000 The army musters,

00:21:30.240 and Siegfried believes he rides to war and glory,

00:21:33.500 but fresh tidings arrive

00:21:35.140 that their adversaries have already sued for peace.

00:21:38.020 So, deprived of hopes of conquest,

00:21:41.220 Gunther, Hagen, and Siegfried

00:21:43.040 take their entourage hunting,

00:21:45.320 and it is there

00:21:46.680 that the legendary Siegfried is betrayed,

00:21:49.580 as Hagen's spear smites him,

00:21:52.040 and we are told,

00:21:52.940 no warrior will ever do a darker deed.

00:21:57.240 Far away,

00:21:58.540 Krimhild knows in her heart

00:22:00.200 that her husband is slain.

00:22:02.880 Her dream returns,

00:22:04.560 and the sight of his body,

00:22:06.300 lifeless and bloody,

00:22:08.120 brings her to grief beyond words,

00:22:10.460 and all the days of her life

00:22:12.060 are marked with forlorn despair and fury. 0.99

00:22:14.780 She swears that she will kill Hagen.

00:22:18.300 King Siegmund beseeches Krimhild 0.87

00:22:20.560 to return with him to Nibelungenland,

00:22:23.320 where she might still take comfort

00:22:24.860 in raising her son,

00:22:26.560 but Krimhild chooses to stay amongst her kin.

00:22:30.000 Time does not diminish her sorrow,

00:22:32.400 and to add further insult,

00:22:34.200 Hagen has the treasure of the Nibelungs, 0.98

00:22:36.760 won by Siegfried in his days of valour,

00:22:39.380 brought to Burgundy.

00:22:41.060 It being just as Krimhild's dowry, 0.82

00:22:43.400 the one's fair lady

00:22:45.100 wastes her days away 0.52

00:22:46.500 with unnumbered tears,

00:22:48.680 yet always seeking the means

00:22:51.000 to avenge her true love.

00:22:54.360 Though this shouldn't come

00:22:55.300 as a surprise to anyone,

00:22:57.080 given the trajectory of the narrative

00:22:58.980 you can already see unfurling before you,

00:23:01.600 the Nibelungen ride

00:23:02.940 is not going to end very happily at all,

00:23:05.700 and the part two,

00:23:07.240 when we get into it,

00:23:08.560 is going to nosedive

00:23:11.120 into even more death

00:23:12.860 and murder and betrayal.

00:23:14.500 Rather than feel like

00:23:16.020 worrying about spoiling

00:23:17.560 a story that's 800 years old for you,

00:23:20.860 much older based on the oral tradition,

00:23:23.240 I feel like it makes sense

00:23:24.380 to at least just be able

00:23:25.780 to explain things

00:23:27.520 in the context of

00:23:28.660 where the story is going

00:23:30.560 and all the rest of it.

00:23:32.400 But as I say,

00:23:33.500 there is so much to unpack

00:23:35.040 that there will be more than enough

00:23:36.460 to talk about

00:23:37.160 when we get to discussing

00:23:38.740 part two next week.

00:23:40.180 as you can tell here

00:23:41.920 with characters like Siegfried,

00:23:44.040 some of them aren't exactly

00:23:45.380 already making it to part two.

00:23:47.700 So some of them are worth

00:23:48.840 talking about here and now,

00:23:50.440 and some of the other characters

00:23:52.460 will be better discussed

00:23:54.460 when we get to that.

00:23:56.060 Another thing to say as well

00:23:57.480 is that you can tell

00:23:59.340 from the very beginning

00:24:00.240 of the Nibelungen lead

00:24:01.460 that it starts out

00:24:03.120 in total romance.

00:24:05.780 Krimhild is the most beautiful,

00:24:08.100 Burgundy is the most wondrous place,

00:24:10.580 Siegfried is the most valiant,

00:24:12.540 his empire is the most mighty.

00:24:14.800 It really feels entirely

00:24:16.740 in keeping with that prose

00:24:18.560 of the romances of the time.

00:24:21.480 And obviously,

00:24:22.320 as you can see,

00:24:23.340 as things goes on,

00:24:24.820 things get more and more nasty.

00:24:27.580 And what's more,

00:24:29.160 it's important to remember as well

00:24:31.200 that Krimhild in many senses

00:24:35.200 seems to be the quote-unquote

00:24:38.080 hero of the story,

00:24:40.200 not Siegfried,

00:24:41.500 because part two is very much

00:24:43.160 taken up with her quest

00:24:45.040 for revenge,

00:24:45.920 her quest for justice 0.94

00:24:47.100 against her wrongly murdered husband.

00:24:50.360 Fortunately, also to help me

00:24:52.800 with analysing and talking

00:24:55.040 all about this epic text,

00:24:57.840 I actually have Thomas Carlyle

00:25:00.040 to aid me with it,

00:25:01.220 because Carlyle was one of the,

00:25:03.900 although he never wrote

00:25:05.060 a full translation

00:25:06.760 of the Niebelungenlied

00:25:08.220 into English himself,

00:25:09.780 he was very, very skilled

00:25:11.140 in speaking German.

00:25:14.020 And so in 1831,

00:25:16.860 I believe it was,

00:25:17.760 he actually wrote

00:25:18.460 an extensive essay

00:25:19.600 analysing the text

00:25:21.300 and bringing a very new knowledge

00:25:23.860 of it to people here in Britain.

00:25:27.220 And so I've also got quotes

00:25:29.120 from just some of his observations

00:25:31.220 on it as well

00:25:32.060 that I think are worth reading.

00:25:34.300 Carlyle points out,

00:25:35.560 It may be observed

00:25:37.120 that the poet here

00:25:38.660 and at all times

00:25:39.820 shows a marked partiality

00:25:42.040 for Krimhild,

00:25:43.560 ever striving,

00:25:44.620 unlike his fellow singers,

00:25:46.180 to magnify her worth,

00:25:48.520 her faithfulness

00:25:49.540 and loveliness

00:25:50.580 and softening,

00:25:51.740 as much as may be,

00:25:53.380 whatever makes against her.

00:25:54.920 Much like Beowulf,

00:25:56.380 the Niebelungenlied

00:25:57.740 is full of characters

00:26:00.520 coming to grips

00:26:02.620 with doom,

00:26:04.640 doom in the old

00:26:06.320 pagan sense of the word.

00:26:08.120 Much like Beowulf as well,

00:26:09.600 you can see a Christian text

00:26:12.180 at work on an older

00:26:13.560 pagan story.

00:26:15.520 If you enjoyed this piece

00:26:16.640 of premium content

00:26:17.540 from the Lotus Eaters,

00:26:18.900 head to our website

00:26:19.800 where you can find more.

00:26:21.140 counteractual living

00:26:21.980 María

00:26:26.740 3

00:26:27.240 2

00:26:28.000 5

00:26:28.440 5

00:26:30.320 active

00:26:30.600 and

00:26:31.120 pic

00:26:32.080 t

00:26:32.100 6

00:26:32.260 5

00:26:32.800 normal

00:26:32.820 Discord

00:26:34.260 2

00:26:34.960 3

00:26:35.540 2

00:26:36.300 1

00:26:37.480 2

00:26:38.500 2

00:26:38.740 3

00:26:38.820 3

00:26:40.720 2

00:26:40.980 1

00:26:43.420 3

00:26:43.900 4

00:26:46.080 2

00:26:46.380 1

00:26:46.880 2

00:26:47.760 3

00:26:47.920 2

00:26:48.040 3

00:26:48.440 4

00:26:48.600 2

00:26:48.700 3

00:26:49.120 5

00:26:50.020 ilt

00:26:50.260 1

The Podcast of the Lotus Eaters - October 04, 2025

PREVIEW： Chronicles #16 ｜ The Nibelungenlied Part 1

Episode Stats

Summary

Transcript