re Kriemhild's Hall
Thirtieth Adventure How Hagen and Folker Kept Watch
Thirty-First Adventure How the Burgundians Went to Church
Thirty-Second Adventure How Bloedel Fought With Dankwart in the Hall
Thirty-Third Adventure How Dankwart Brought the News to His Masters
Thirty-Fourth Adventure How They Threw Down the Dead
Thirty-Fifth Adventure How Iring Was Slain
Thirty-Sixth Adventure How the Queen Bad Them Burn Down the Hall
Thirty-Seventh Adventure How Rudeger Was Slain
Thirty-Eighth Adventure How Dietrich's Knights Were All Slain
Thirty-Ninth Adventure How Gunther, Hagen, and Kriemhild Were Slain

Book I

First Adventure

Concerning the Niebelungs

In old tales they tell us many wonders of heroes and of high courage, of
glad feasting, of wine and of mourning; and herein ye shall read of the
marvellous deeds and of the strife of brave men.

There grew up in Burgundy a noble maiden, in no land was a fairer.
Kriemhild was her name. Well favoured was the damsel, and by reason of
her died many warriors. Doughty knights in plenty wooed her, as was
meet, for of her body she was exceeding comely, and her virtues were an
adornment to all women.

Three kings noble and rich guarded her, Gunther and Gernot, warriors of
fame, and Giselher the youth, a chosen knight. The damsel was their
sister, and the care of her fell on them. These lords were courteous and
of high lineage, bold and very strong, each of them the pick of knights.
The name of their country was Burgundy, and they did great deeds, after,
in Etzel's land. At Worms, by the Rhine, they dwelled in might with many
a proud lord for vassal.

Their mother was a rich queen and hight Uta, and the name of their father
was Dankrat, who, when his life was ended, left them his lands. A strong
man was he in his time, and one that in his youth won great worship.

These three princes, as I have said, were valiant men, overlords of the
best knights that folk have praised, strong and bold and undismayed in
strife. There were Hagen of Trony, and also his brother Dankwart the
swift; and Ortwin of Metz; the two Margraves, Gary and Eckewart; Volker
of Alzeia, strong of body; Rumolt, the steward, a chosen knight; Sindolt
and Hunolt. These last three served at court and pursued honour. And
other knights were there, more than I can name. Dankwart was the
marshal; the nephew of Ortwin of Metz carved at the board; Sindolt was
the butle