PREVIEW： Chronicles #16 ｜ The Nibelungenlied Part 1
Episode Stats
Words per minute
140.71114
Harmful content
Misogyny
12
sentences flagged
Toxicity
5
sentences flagged
Hate speech
12
sentences flagged
Summary
The Nibelungenlied is one of the most famous and influential works of Germanic literature, and is considered by many to be the greatest novel ever written by a Germanic poet. It tells the story of a group of ancient Germanic kings and their quest for a lost treasure, and how it leads to the destruction of their kingdom.
Transcript
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Hello, ladies and gentlemen, and welcome to Chronicles, where today we're going to be
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talking all about the Nibelungenlied by an unknown poet, very much like the Beowulf poet as well.
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We don't know who actually wrote this, but what I can tell you about it is that it is estimated to have
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been written between the late 12th century and the early 13th century, so about 1200 AD, and it is
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one of the most famous and influential pieces of German literature of all time, of course hailing
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from the height of the medieval period. And the Nibelungenlied is a very, very interesting story,
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because not only is it written very much in the style of people like Thomas of Britain
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and Christiane de Troyes, who wrote many of the Arthurian romances. But what's more, it has one
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of the most dark and sinister stories of revenge I've ever read. In fact, this story for many
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centuries disappeared after the medieval era and was rediscovered by a local German man back in about
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1755. And so since then, since its rediscovery over many, many centuries, it became known as
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something of the Northern Iliad. This is how the Germans, of course, framed it themselves,
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wanting to be very, very proud of their own achievements. Although I don't think that many
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people would say that it is, on par with the Iliad itself, I would say it is still a remarkable
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achievement, and gives a great window into the fusion of myth and legend and history.
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All of these coming together in the understanding of Germanic peoples and their own history. Because
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a lot of the characters in this, unlike in Beowulf, where really the only character who has any real
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historical grounding is Higalak, the King of the Gaets, in this, many of the characters are inspired by
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real historical figures. Now, this doesn't mean at all that the things that they do in the novel,
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in the work, are one-for-one replications of the actual historical accounts of these people.
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But they do represent a very, very interesting image of the oral tradition of storytelling,
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passing down from the Germanic migration period, between about 300 and 600, both from the
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end, the wavering end of the Western Roman Empire, and into the start of the Dark Ages, before we have
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any actual written works of epic Germanic poetry, that came about in Germany in about 830, with the
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Hildebrander Lied, which is a tale all about Hildebrand. But as it says here, we have the
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Nibelungenlied. So it is the lay of the Nibelungs. It's a song of their tragedy, of their fate, of their
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doom. And what's also interesting about this story as well, is that in addition to a very, very strong
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written work for the German people as well, you also have a remarkably strong tradition with Old
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Norse. When you look at Norse works, such as the Volsunga Saga, and the Poetic Ada, both compiled
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after the Nibelungenlied was actually published by about 70 years or so, in some cases, there is a
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remarkable amount of overlap between the events of this and the events of the Norse counterparts.
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Now, the Norse counterparts are a more extensive story. If the Nibelungenlied begins with the tale of
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Siegfried, one of the main characters of this, then the Norse version starts right back in the depths of
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time, with the pagan gods themselves, with Odin and Loki and the dwarves and this ring of Anvari.
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And many of these things will go on to be immortalised in the remarkable, famous work of Richard Wagner
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in his Ring Cycle, in which he lays out this grand 15-hour opera in four parts, where he goes through
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the beginning of the Nibelung treasure, right? It's a treasure of the Nibelung people. This keeps getting
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passed down the generations, and the treasure in it is actually cursed. Although, as we'll see when I read
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this version, the treasure is still present, but less important than it is in the Norse version.
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And so I will absolutely get round to discussing such things as the Volsunga Saga and the Poetic Ada
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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,
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let us talk all about the Nibelunglied. And just to say as well, what I've done for this particular set of
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Chronicles, the events of the Nibelunglied are so epic. It's so eventful. It's so packed with action
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and characters and plot and deception that what I've done is I've split the story into two parts. So,
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in this episode, we'll talk all about part one. And in the next episode, we'll talk about part two.
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Obviously, you can all count to two. So, we'll begin with the events and the story of part one.
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We have been told in ancient tales many marvels of famous heroes, of mighty toils,
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joys, and high festivities, of weepings and wailings, and the fighting of bold warriors,
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of such things you can now hear wonders unending.
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In the land of the Burgundians, there grew up a maiden of high lineage,
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She came to be a beautiful woman, causing many knights to lose their lives.
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This charming girl was as if made for love's caresses.
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She was desired by brave fighting men, and none was her enemy.
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For graces did the young lady possess that she was the adornment of her sex.
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She was in the care of three great and noble kings,
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the renowned warriors Gunther and Guernot, and young Gisela, a splendid knight.
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And she was sister to these princes, who had the charge of her.
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Living in the magnificence of Burgundy, Creamhild dreamt she feared a falcon,
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strong, handsome, and wild, but that two eagles rent it while she perforce looked on,
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the most grievous thing that could ever befall her.
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Her mother, Ute, interprets her dream as a foreshadowing of mortal sorrow.
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Creamhild is destined to lose a mighty husband.
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I intend to stay free of a warrior's love all my life.
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and never be made wretched by the love of any man.
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Down the Rhine, in the splendid, far-famed city of Xanten,
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in the Netherlands, they grew up a royal prince,
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a gallant knight named Siegfried, son of Siegmund.
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In the panoply of wealth and warriors, the boy grew up without want.
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When Siegfried came of age, he was knighted in midsummer,
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A day came when tales of Creamhild's beauty reached Siegfried.
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The brave prince was well endowed to win the hearts of lovely women,
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his kinsmen and vassals counseled him to woo a lady of suitable standing.
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I shall take Creamhild, the fair maiden of Burgundy.
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King Siegmund seeks to dissuade his son of this youthful endeavour,
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remarking on the protective nature of Creamhild's brothers.
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and his doting father provides him with all the advantages his son may need for his success.
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A week later, Siegfried's valiant company rode to Gunther's land.
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Upon their arrival, King Gunther asks his brother Hagen the identity of these mysterious knights.
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Hagen then provides a lengthy tale of Siegfried's deeds.
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and bathing in its blood, his skin had become impenetrable.
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What's more, he had vanquished Nibelung and other princes,
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Siegfried accrued a hoard of the dragon's wealth,
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where he ruled with his father in a mighty empire.
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The men of Burgundy ask of Siegfried's intentions,
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that the bravest warriors that King ever had were to be found with you,
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I have also heard such war-like qualities ascribe to you,
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Nor shall I desist until I know the truth of it.
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I, too, am a warrior, and am entitled to wear a crown,
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but I wish to achieve the reputation of possessing a land and people in my own sole right,
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Now, since you are so brave, and I do not care who minds,
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I will wrest from you by force all that you possess.
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Your lands and your castles shall all be subject to me.
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King Gunther and his court are alarmed by such unprovoked aggression.
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Gernot justly asks why such conflict is necessary,
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when there would be small honour for them, and little reward for the prince.
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Tactfully, the Burgundians welcome Siegfried and his men to their keep.
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Whilst guesting in Worms, Siegfried accompanies its lords to their hunts and feasts.
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But, in all the time he stays at King Gunther's court,
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he never so much as catches a glance of Krimhild.
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In time, Siegfried has been their guest for an entire year,
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when tidings reach Gunther's lands of the sovereigns of Saxony and Denmark's desire to make war on his people.
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Mighty Gunther is deeply downcast, but, after holding council,
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he marshals his men, and Siegfried offers his sword, Baumung, in defence of Gunther's realm.
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The war is a great victory for the Burgundians, who bring the two foreign kings back as prisoners of war.
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There is a great feast, in honour of King Gunther's allies,
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and it is during these celebrations that Siegfried first meets Lady Krimhild.
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She emerges like the dawn from the dark clouds.
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You are welcome, Lord Siegfried, noble knight, said she.
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Siegfried's spirit soared at this greeting, and he bowed his devoted thanks.
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Then she took him by the hand, and how ardently did this lord walk beside the lady,
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Soon they share each and every day in one another's company,
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and their shared joy and admiration blossoms into love.
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Fresh tidings soon arrive in the kingdom, not of war, but of beauty.
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In distant Iceland, a powerful queen rules from her fortress of Eisenstein.
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Brunhild is her name, a shield maiden of colossal strength and will.
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And King Gunther elects to tame her spirit and take her to be his wife.
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And thus it is that Gunther, Siegfried, Hagen, and Danquart sail for Iceland.
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Gunther's resolve and recognition of the chances of failure leads him to make a pact with noble Siegfried.
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If Siegfried will aid him in winning Brunhild, then the king will assent to Siegfried marrying Kriemhild.
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It is agreed upon, and, entering Brunhild's realm, she greets Siegfried as first of his company.
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Yet the knight corrects her, and proclaims that he serves the Rhinish king.
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Brunhild declares that if Gunther means to claim her, then he shall have to best her in a contest of strength.
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Should Gunther lose, then his life, and the life of his companions, will be forfeit.
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Brunhild's strength was clearly tremendous, for they brought a heavy boulder to the ring for her, round and of monstrous size.
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And this she would always hurl after throwing her javelin.
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The Burgundian's fears rose high at the sight of it.
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What sort of a lover has the king got here?
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Rather, she should be the devil's drab in hell.
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But the men of the Rhine mean to play a game of deception.
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Siegfried has in his possession a cloak of invisibility, that he gained from the dwarf Albaric.
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So it is that as Gunther goes through the motions, Siegfried does the deeds.
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The valiant knight hurls his javelin and boulder, further than the shield maiden can match,
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and completes his victory by leaping beyond what he can even throw, even as he is carrying Gunther in his arms.
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Brunhild is astonished, but holds to a word and pledges to marry King Gunther.
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She merely asks for some time so that she may appoint trusted men to govern in her name in Iceland,
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before departing for her new life in Burgundy.
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During this time, Siegfried employs his magic cloak once more to sneak down to their ship
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and bring back men from his realm in Nibelungenland,
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as a precaution, if Brunhild means to double-cross them.
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Their ships are unmoored, and they sail for home.
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Brunhild arrives in Worms to a city in jubilance.
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Lady Creamhild comes forward with great elegance.
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Welcome to my mother and to me, here in this country, and to all the loyal friends we have.
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The city is aglow with revelry and mirth, none more so than in the heart of Siegfried,
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who finally receives the blessing of Gunther to marry Creamhild.
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The two couples retire to their respective beg chambers,
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and we are told that Lord Siegfried's pastime was to his vast contentment.
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For as he lay with a young lady and inured her so tenderly in his noble loves,
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she became as dear to him as life, and he would not have exchanged her for a thousand others.
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But for King Gunther, his knight is only characterized by humiliation.
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When he attempts to touch Brunhild, she resists his advances,
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and as Gunther more forcefully tries to assert his will,
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Brunhild wrestles with the king, binds him with her own girdle,
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and hangs him from the wrists upon his own wall.
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As to him, he all but died, such strength that she exerted.
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who has proven his loyalty countless times over,
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so that night, when the candles go out and the room darkens,
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Siegfried tries to tame the will of Brunhild.
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She took tremendous revenge on him for having ruffled her clothes.
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and rammed him between the wall and the coffer.
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the whole sex will grow uppish with their husbands forever after,
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and, believing herself bested by her husband Gunther,
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I shall make ample amends for all I have done to you,
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and shall never again repel your noble advances,
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he takes with him a single ring from Brunhild's hand,
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The realms of Burgundy and the Netherlands were on good terms,
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both Gunther and Siegfried each had the wife of their desires,
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and the strength of these great men enforced peace.
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Siegfried decides it is time to return to his own kingdom with his wife,
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so that she might meet her father-in-law, King Siegmund.
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In time, a son is born from the union of Fair Krimhild and her gallant husband.
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then how can he possibly give away his own sister to him?
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what other deceptions has she been subjected to?
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as she insists that Siegfried must return with his wife,
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So, King Siegmund, with Siegfried and Krimhild,
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on which of their husbands is a superior warrior.
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Not only is Lord Siegfried not subservient to Gunther,
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Both Gunther and Siegfried deny all knowledge of such a ruse,
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Many a knight professes a desire to kill noble Siegfried
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for the dishonour he has brought upon the queen.
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Thus, those warriors declared themselves his enemies,
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The king followed his vassals' advice to evil effect,
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the great betrayal before any might discover it,
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so that, thanks to the wranglings of two women,
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and Siegfried believes he rides to war and glory,
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that their adversaries have already sued for peace.