The Nibelungenlied

The poet recalls “ancient tales […] of famous heroes,” “weeping and wailing, and the fighting of bold warriors,” promising that the reader will now hear of more such “wonders.”

The poet introduces Kriemhild, a maiden of Burgundy. Kriemhild has grown up to be a beautiful woman, “causing many knights to lose their lives.” She is so charming, noble, and lovely, that it’s as if she was “made for love’s caresses,” and no man is her enemy.

Kriemhild is a princess, the sister and ward of the renowned kings Gunther, Gernot, and Giselher, and daughter of Dancrat and Uote. The family rules from Worms beside the Rhine, and they are served by many proud knights “till their dying day, when the enmity of two noble ladies was to bring them to a sad end.” Some of these knights include famed warriors such as Hagen, Dancwart, Ortwin, and Volker.

Kriemhild dreams that she raised a wild falcon, which was torn apart by two eagles while she watched. When she recounts the dream to her mother, Uote replies that the falcon represents a noble man who will be taken from her. Kriemhild retorts that she will remain “free of a warrior’s love all [her] life.” Uote warns her not to forswear love, since only a man’s love can bring true happiness.

Kriemhild explains that she has heard many examples of women who paid for happiness with sorrow in the end, but that she intends to avoid both happiness and sorrow. She contentedly avoids romance for a while. But, the poet explains, the time will come when she will be wed to her “falcon,” that he will be slain, and that Kriemhild will take terrible vengeance on his slayers.