United States or Tonga ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
He guardeth this land and is liegeman unto Gelfrat. And cometh he not betimes, so call across the flood and say, ye hight Amelrich. He was a doughty here that; because of a feud did void this land. The ferryman will come when he heareth this name." Haughty Hagen bowed then to the dames; he spake no more, but held his peace.
For the lord of these lands, who is called Else, and his brother, Knight Gelfrat, will make it go hard with you an ye cross their dominions. Guard you carefully and deal wisely with the ferryman, for he is liegeman unto Gelfrat, and if he will not cross the river to you, call for him, and say thou art named Amelrich, a hero of this land who left it some time agone.
If he come not straightway, cry across the river to him that thou art Amelrich; he was a good knight, that a feud drove from this land. The boatman will come when he heareth that name." Proud Hagen thanked the women for their warning and their counsel, and said no more. He went up the river's bank, till he came to an inn that stood on the far side.
I am Amelrich, Else's liegeman, that because of a great feud did void these lands." High upon his spear he offered him an arm band, bright and fair it was, of ruddy gold, that one should ferry him over to Gelfrat's land. The haughty ferryman, the which was newly wed himself, did take the oar in hand.
He thought to win Hagen's red gold, but won, in lieu thereof, a grim death by his sword. He rowed over to the shore with mighty strokes. When he found not him that had been named, he fell into a fury; he saw Hagen, and spake wrothfully to the hero, "Thy name may be Amelrich, but, or I err greatly, thy face is none of his. By one father and one mother he was my brother.
"Row across for Amelrich. I am Elsy's liegeman, that, for a feud, fled the country." He swung the armlet aloft on his sword it was of red gold, bright and shining that they might ferry him over to Gelfrat's march. At this the haughty boatman himself took the oar, for he was greedy and covetous of gain, the which bringeth oft to a bad end.
When he spied Hagen, with fierce rage he spake to the hero: "Ye may perchance hight Amelrich, but ye are not like him whom I weened here. By father and by mother he was my brother. Sith ye have bewrayed me, ye may stay on this hither shore." "No, by the mighty God," spake then Hagen, "I am a stranger knight and have warriors in my care. Now take ye kindly my meed to-day and ferry me over.
Else appears also in "Biterolf"; in the "Thidreksaga" he is called "Elsung", the younger, as his father bore the same name. See Adventure XXV, note 4. "Amelrich" is the ferryman's brother. "Spear". It was the custom to offer presents on a spear point, perhaps to prevent the recipient from treacherously using his sword.
The haughty ferryman took an oar and rowed across, but when he arrived at the farther bank he spied not him who had cried for passage. At last he saw Hagen, and in great anger said: You may be called Amelrich, but you are not like him whom I thought to be here, for he was my brother. You have lied to me and there you may stay.
Loudly did he call across the water, which resounded to his cries. Then, his patience exhausted, he shouted: Come hither, for I am Amelrich, liegeman to Else, who left these lands because of a great feud. As he spake he raised his spear, on which was an armlet of bright gold, cunningly fashioned.
Word Of The Day