Then she thought of the tale she had told to Hagen, though she durst not
say a whit. The noble queen began to rue that she was ever born. Lord
Siegfried's wife wept out of measure. She spake to the knight: "Let be
your hunting. I had an evil dream last night, how two wild boars did
chase you across the heath; then flowers grew red. I have in truth great
cause to weep so sore. I be much adread of sundry plans and whether we
have not misserved some who might bear us hostile hate. Tarry here, dear
my lord, that I counsel by my troth."
He spake: "Dear love, I'll come back in a few short days. I wot not here
of people who bear me aught of hate. Each and all of thy kinsmen be my
friends, nor have I deserved it other of the knights."
"No, no, Sir Siegfried, in truth I fear thy fall. I had last night an
evil dream, how two mountains fell upon thee. I saw thee nevermore. It
doth cut me to the heart, that thou wilt part from me."
In his arms he clasped his courteous wife and kissed her tenderly. Then
in a short space he took his leave and parted hence. Alas, she never saw
him in health again.
Then they rode from thence into a deep wood for pastime's sake. Many
bold knights did follow Gunther and his men, but Gernot and Giselher
stayed at home. Many laden sumpters were sent before them across the
Rhine, the which bare for the hunting fellowship bread and wine, meat
and fish, and great store of other things, which so mighty a king might
rightly have. They bade the proud huntsmen and bold halt before a green
wood over against the courses of the game, upon a passing broad glade
where they should hunt. The king was told that Siegfried, too, was come.
The hunting fellowship now took their stand on every side. Then the
bold knight, the sturdy Siegfried, asked: "Ye heroes bold and brave, who
shall lead us to the game within the wood?"
"Let us part," spake Hagen, "ere we begin the chase. Thereby my lords
and I may know who be the best hunter on this woodland journey. Let us
divide the folk and hounds and let each turn whithersoever he list. He
who doth hunt the best shall have our thanks." Short time the huntsmen
bided by another after that.
Then spake Lord Siegfried: "I need no dogs save one brach that hath
been trained that he can tell the track of the beasts through the pine
woods." Quoth Kriemhild's husband: "We'll find the game."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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