PREVIEW： Chronicles #16 ｜ The Nibelungenlied Part 1
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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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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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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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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.