The Fall of the Niebelungs




Translated by Margaret Armour


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