Nibelungenlied: (German folk epic)

Author: Cao Naiyun
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-12-01
Features: In the ancient Netherlands, there was a prince named Siegfried. The prince was very brave and immensely strong, having once killed a dragon and bathed in its blood, which made him invulnerable wherever the blood touched, like armor. However, while bathing, a Bodhi leaf happened to fall on his shoulder, leaving that spot as his fatal weak point. This Dutch prince also conquered and seized the enormous Niebelungen treasure. Additionally, he gained a magic invisibility cap in battle, which not only made him invisible but also greatly enhanced his strength. Hearing that there was a princess named Kriemhild in the Burgundy Kingdom who was as beautiful as a goddess, the prince decided to go and ask for her hand in marriage. The king of Burgundy was named Gunther, who was Kriemhilt's brother. He agreed to the prince's request but set a condition: the prince must help him accomplish something. Gunther had long wanted to marry the beautiful queen of Iceland, whose name was Brunhild. However, this Icelandic queen was both beautiful and fierce. Any suitor who wanted to marry her had to compete with her in events similar to modern-day track and field: throwing spears, discus, and long jumps. If the suitor failed in any one of these events, not only would he fail to marry her, but he would also lose his life. Gunther knew he was no match for her, so he asked Siegfried to help him with all his might. Thus, Siegfried disguised himself as one of Gunther's attendants and went to Iceland. When Gunther competed with Brunhild, Siegfried secretly helped him with the power of the invisibility cap, enabling Gunther to win all three events. Brunhild had no choice but to follow Gunther back to the Burgundy Kingdom. After returning, Brunhild and Gunther, as well as Siegfried and Kriemhilt, were married. However, on their wedding night, the fierce Icelandic queen severely beat Gunther and tied him up and hung him on the wall. The next day, Gunther had to ask Siegfried for help again. So, at night, Siegfried put on the invisibility cap and sneaked into Gunther's bedroom, helping Gunther to subdue Brunhilt and make her his wife. From then on, Brunhilt lost her former cruelty and became a gentle wife. That night, Siegfried casually took a ring and a belt from Brunhilt and gave them to his wife Kriemhilt to keep. Soon after, Siegfried took Kriemhilt back to his homeland, the Netherlands. Twelve years later, they were invited to the Burgundy Kingdom again. One day, Kriemhilt and Brunhilt went together to the Worms Cathedral for mass. On the way, they argued about who should walk first. Brunhilt said to Kriemhilt, "A slave's witch should not walk in front of a queen." Kriemhilt replied, "How did a mistress become the wife of a great king?" Brunhilt was furious and resolved to take revenge on Siegfried. Gunther's warrior and loyal subject Hagen swore to kill Siegfried to avenge his master, demonstrating his loyalty. Hagen once accidentally learned from Kriemhilt where Siegfried's fatal weak spot was. On an expedition, when the enemy was not seen, the mission turned into a hunt. Siegfried went to the spring to drink water, and Hagen followed him and secretly killed him. Kriemhilt, Siegfried's wife, was deeply grieved and determined to avenge her husband. Several years later, she was persuaded to send the Niebelungen treasure—the gift for her wedding night—to the Burgundy Kingdom. After the treasure arrived, Hagen used every means to finally obtain the key to the treasure and secretly sank it to the bottom of the Rhine River. Later, the king of the Huns, Etzel, asked Kriemhilt to marry him. The messenger promised to solve her troubles after the marriage, and only then did Kriemhilt agree to marry him again. So, Kriemhilt set off for the Hun kingdom. She constantly thought of revenge while in the Hun kingdom and unknowingly stayed there for 12 years. One day, Kriemhilt invited her brother Gunther and Hagen to the Hun kingdom as guests. Hagen, upon receiving the invitation, immediately understood Kriemhilt's intention and tried to persuade Gunther not to go, but the knight's courage forced him to dare to take the risk. Thus, Gunther and Hagen, along with ten thousand elite soldiers, set off in grand style to the Hun kingdom. At the grand banquet in the Hun kingdom, the competition turned from a sham to a real battle, and eventually, it turned into a bloody fight. The Huns and the Burgundians fought fiercely, until the battlefield was filled with blood and bodies. Gunther and Hagen were both captured by the Huns. Kriemhilt could have killed Hagen to avenge her husband, but the words she asked Hagen were, "Where is the Niebelungen treasure now?" She promised to spare Hagen's life if he returned the treasure. Hagen replied, "As long as my king Gunther is alive, I cannot reveal the treasure's location." Kriemhilt then killed her brother Gunther and showed his head to Hagen. Seeing Gunther's head, Hagen said to Kriemhilt, "Now, only God and I know where the treasure is. You will never find it." Seeing his defiance, Kriemhilt furiously killed Hagen. The warrior Hildibrand, witnessing a noble warrior being cruelly killed by a woman, was furious and stepped forward, cutting off Kriemhilt's head with his sword. Thus, an epic tale ended in a pool of blood and bodies.