This formidable champion, after winning the love and the hand of the fair princess Chrimhilde, and performing a thousand valiant deeds, is treacherously murdered by the three brothers of Chrimhilde, Gunther, king of Burgundy, Ghiseler, Gernot, and their uncle Hagen, instigated by queen Brunhilde, the wife of Gunther. Chrimhilde meditates for years the project of a deep and deadly revenge on the murderers of her husband. This vengeance is in fact the subject of the Nibelungen Lied, as the wrath of Achilles is the subject of the Iliad. The poem opens thus beautifully with a kind of argument of the whole eventful story. "In ancient song and story marvels high are told Of knights of bold emprize and adventures mani-fold; Of joy and merry feasting, of lamenting, woe, and fear; Of champions' bloody battles many marvels shall ye hear. A noble maid and fair, grew up in Burgundy, In all the land about fairer none might be; She became a queen full high, Chrimhild was she hight, But for her matchless beauty fell many a blade of might. For love and for delight was framed that lady gay, Many a champion bold sighed for that gentle May; Beauteous was her form! beauteous without compare! The virgin's virtues might adorn many a lady fair. Three kings of might had the maiden in their care, King Gunther and king Gernot, champions bold they were, And Ghiselar the young, a chosen peerless blade: The lady was their sister, and much they loved the maid." Then follows an enumeration of the heroes in attendance on king Gunther: Haghen, the fierce; Dankwart, the swift; Volker, the minstrel knight; and others; "all champions bold and free;"--and then the poet proceeds to open the argument. "One night the queen Chrimhild dreamt her as she lay, How she had trained and nourished a falcon, wild and gay; When suddenly two eagles fierce the gentle hawk have slain-- Never, in this world felt she such cruel pain! To her mother, Uta, she told her dream with fear. Full mournfully she answered to what the maid did spier, 'The falcon, whom you cherished, a gentle knight is he: God take him to his ward! thou must lose him suddenly.' 'What speak you of the knight? dearest mother, say! Without the love of Champion, to my dying day, Ever thus fair will I remain, nor take a wedded fere To gain such pain and sorrow--though the knight were without peer!' 'Speak not thou too rashly!' her mother spake again. 'If ever in this world, thou heart-felt joy wilt gain, Maiden must thou be no more; Leman must thou have. God will grant thee for thy mate, some gentle knight and brave.' 'O leave thy words, lady mother; speak not of wedded mate, Full many a gentle maiden hath found the truth too late: Still has their fondest love ended with woe and pain; Virgin will I ever be, nor the love of Leman gain.'