Of that same little runnel where Siegfried murder'd fell, The true and rightful story you now shall hear me tell. In th' Odenwald is a village, Odenheim is its name. There still the brook is running; doubt not it is the same. SEVENTEENTH ADVENTURE HOW SIEGFRIED WAS BEWAILED AND BURIED I Till nightfall there they tarried, and then the Rhine recross'd; Never yet hunted warriors at such a grievous cost. Many a fair lady sorrow'd for a hart they slew that day; The life of many a champion must for that hunting pay. II Of overweening outrage now must tell my strain, And dire revenge remorseless; the dead, thus foully slain, As though athirst for horrors, Hagan bade bear away, And cast before the chamber where unweeting Kriemhild lay. III He bade his followers darkling down lay him at the door, That she might surely find him, as she stepp'd the threshold o'er. Going forth to matins ere the dawn of day, For from a single service she seldom kept away. IV The minster bells were ringing at th' early 'custom'd hour. Upstarted then fair Kriemhild, and wak'd each maid in bower. For light she call'd and vesture that she might straight be gown'd. A chamberlain hasten'd thither, and there Sir Siegfried found. V He saw him blood-bespatter'd, with weed all dabbled o'er; He knew not 'twas his master stretch'd on the reeking floor; In went he to the chamber; with him the light he took, By which on such deep horror sad Kriemhild was to look. VI As she now with her maidens to church would take her way, The chamberlain bespoke her; "Lady, a little stay; A murder'd knight is lying close before the sill." "O woe!" cried fearful Kriemhild, "what means this tale of ill?" VII Ere yet she could see clearly 'twas her lord who lay there lay slain, The question put by Hagan rush'd to her mind again, How he could guard her husband; then anguish first she felt. From his death for ever with lingering grief she dwelt. VIII To earth down sank she senseless, that not a word she spoke. There lay the fair, the friendless, beneath that mortal stroke. Then, from her swoon reviving, up from the ground she sprang, And shriek'd so shrill and sudden, that all the chamber rang. IX Then said her trembling maidens, "What stranger here lies slain?" From her mouth a bloody torrent burst through heart-quelling pain. "No, no!" said she, "'tis Siegfried, my love, that there lies low. 'Twas Brunhild gave the counsel, and Hagan struck the blow." X Thither where the corpse was lying, her maids their lady led; With her lily hand, all trembling, she raised his languish'd head; Howe'er with blood 'twas dabbled, her lord at once she knew. There lay the Chief of Netherland, a piteous sight to view. XI