"Let me have one small pleasure 'mid pains so manifold; The stately head of Siegfried I would once more behold." She begg'd so long, so wailful, that less they could not do Than force the coffin open, and give the corpse to view. LXVIII So thither they led the lady, where lay the clay-cold dead. With her fine snowy fingers she rais'd his stately head, And kiss'd him lifeless lying; long bending there she stood; Her fair eyes for anguish wept o'er him tears of blood. LXIX How woful was their parting! Borne was she thence away, Walk she could no longer; insensible she lay Through bitterness of sorrow, so lovely and so still, As if Death would have smitten, yet wanted heart to kill. LXX When now the noble champion was duly laid in ground, O'erwhelm'd with boundless sorrow the valiant chiefs were found, That from the land of Nibelung had come with him erewhile; King Siegmund too thereafter was seldom seen to smile. LXXI Many were there among them who made unceasing moan, Nor ate nor drank for anguish till three whole days were gone. Then hard constraint compell'ed them to life against their will, And they from grief recovered, as haps to thousands still. LXXII In deadly swoon unconscious the widow'd Kriemhild lay, Both day and night unalter'd e'en to the second day, Nor heard whate'er was spoken, nor mark'd what pass'd around; In like unheeding sorrow was eke King Siegmund drown'd. LXXIII With pain back to his senses return'd the childless chief; Shrunk were his powers, and weaken'd through the strong dint of grief, Nor was there ground for wonder. Then said his liegemen near "My lord, best travel homeward; we must not tarry here." EIGHTEENTH ADVENTURE HOW SIEGMUND RETURNED HOME I The father-in-law of Kriemhild to the pale mourner went, And kindly thus bespake her, "Our thoughts are homeward bent; Unwelcome guests in Rhineland I ween we needs must be, So, Kriemhild, dearest lady, ride to my land with me. II "Thou must not here dwell helpless among thy foemen left, Where both of us of Siegfried foul treason hath bereft. I'll guard thee with firm friendship and honor undefil'd For love of thy good husband and of his noble child. III "All power, beloved lady, shall be thine again, And, as thy lord intended, royally shalt thou reign. The land, the crown, thou ownedst, thou both, as erst, shall sway. To thee shall Siegfried's liegeman a willing service pay." IV Forthwith 'twas told his followers that they must hence with speed; Each straight to the stable hurried for his steed. To dwell with deadly foemen scorn and shame they thought; Matrons and maids were stirring, and out their vesture sought. V