HKB
1 passages · search this phrase →
Often appears with: nibelung treasure · hagan’s testimony · dragon slaying · courage and cowardice · conquest, plunder, and captives
Usually: speech or oration (1) · exhortation (1)
“Yet more I know of Siegfried, that well your ear may hold; A poison-spitting dragon he slew with courage bold, And in the blood then bath'd him; this turn'd to horn his skin. And now no weapons harm him, as often proved has been.” Anonymous (Volks-epic tradition); special introduction by William H. Carpenter, The Nibelungenlied · observation
Hagan explains Siegfried’s past conquests: he won Nibelung’s treasure and defeated Nibelungers, slew a dragon and became invulnerable, and advises Gunther to receive Siegfried courteously as a powerful ally.
That not a hundred wagons could bear the costly load, Still more of gold so ruddy from the Nibelungers' land. All this was to be parted by noble Siegfried's hand. L "So Nibelung's sword they gave him to recompense his pain, But ill was done the service, which they had sought so fain, And he so hard had granted; Siegfried, the hero good, Fail'd the long task to finish; this stirr'd their angry mood. …