The World's Greatest Books [Volumes 1-15, 17-20]

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The Wdrld's Greatest Books

ded him, would aid her in her long-cherished schemes of vengeance, Kriemhilda gave her consent, and with a great retinue of noble knights and maidens she set forth on her journey to the land of the Huns.

King Etzel came to meet his bride with a splendid train of followers, and was by her sweetly greeted with kisses. Twelve knights were also kissed by her. Then at Tulna there was a joust, and great was the honour won by knights.

Next they came to Vienna, where they were received with great honour, and then the party journeyed to King Etzel's castle in Hungary, where Kriemhilda reigned gloriously as Queen Helca had done before her. So in happiness and honour they dwelt together till the seventh year, during which time, to the King's great joy, Kriemhilda bore a son. He was named Ortlieb. And so things went happily till the thirteenth year.

And now the Queen thinking much on the old wrongs inflicted on her, and of her honour among the Nibelungs, considered how she might be avenged on Hagen, who had robbed her of Siegfried; and the yearning grew upon her soul.

Easily she persuaded Etzel to send an invitation to Gemot, her brother, and Hagen of Tronje to visit Hungary. When the message was received, Hagen in his craft feared to go; but Gunther and Gemot resolved that they two would both visit their sister, and Hagen set out with them from the Rhine for the Danube. The Prince of the Rhine equipped for their escort a thousand and three score of his knights and nine thousand squires, to aid at the great festival that should be celebrated.

With false heart Kriemhilda went forth to meet the Burgundians. She kissed Giselher, but Hagen she at once challenged, demanding from him what he had done with the Nibelung hoard. " The devil a bit I bring you!" cried Hagen. " I have to carry enough in my shield, sword, and mail, so I carry nothing to you."

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Kibclangcnlicd

The evil work began at a great joust, when a proud Hun was slain by stout Folker, the famous fiddler, in anger. Then at dinner Hagen raised the wrath of Etzel by insulting remarks about young Prince Ortlieb. Next a fierce fight took place between a party of the Burgundians and many of the Huns, in which all the latter who fought were slain. Folker and Hagen had mainly caused the trouble. But the feud grew hourly more bitter, and great numbers of the knights of the land of the Huns began to flock to the aid of King Etzel and the Queen. In the fray Ortlieb was slain by Hagen.

To Kriemhilda came young Giselher and besought his sister to show mercy to her great company of kinsmen and guests, but the Queen hardened her heart. " I will show no mercy," said she, " for I received none. Yet, deliver Hagen captive, and ye shall live, for ye are my own brothers. Then there shall be a truce."

Her offer was refused, and she issued the terrible command of vengeance. At her order the hall was set on fire in which the knights were gathered, her own knights guarding the doors to prevent any from escaping. But Hagen was taken alive and led to the Queen, who ordered him to be shut in a dungeon. Truly her vengeance was bitter. She went to Hagen and angrily spoke her will that he should give her back the Nibelung hoard. Then might he be spared. Grimly he refused, and she bade her attendants smite off his head. But Kriemhilda quickly suffered, for the bold knight Hildebrand sprang fiercely at her with his sword. And so the story ends.

I cannot tell you plainly what later might have been, Save that in bitter weeping were knights and ladies seen— And noble liegemen also—for friends beloved laid low. The story now is ended: this is the Nibelung's woe.

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THOMAS OTWAY Venice Preserved

Persons in the Drama

Duke of Venice Renault, a conspirator

Priuli, father of Belvidera Officer

Jaffier, husband of Belvidera Friar Pierre, friend of Jaffier Belvidera

Antonio, a Senator

Scene: Venice

Act I

Scene: A chamber

Belvidera discovered. Enter Jaffier, who, after making a fruitless appeal for pecuniary assistance to his father-in-law, Priuli (who hates him for having robbed him of his child), has been tempted by his dearest friend, Pierre, a soldier of fortune, to join with Bedamar, the Spanish ambassador, and other conspirators in a plot to overthrow the Senate. Pierre has inveighed against the rank injustice and the grinding tyranny of the Senate, but his real grievance against the ruling powers is that they have

Thomas Otvvay's thirty-two years of life is typical of the age in which he lived—the age of Dryden and of Nell Gwynne. He was born at Trotton, near Midnurst, on March 3, 1652. and educated at Christ Church, Oxford, for holy orders. In 1671 he was allotted a part in Mrs. Aphra Behn's " Forced Marriage," but the experiment was a failure. Later, in 1675, his first play, " Alcibiades," was produced with indifferent success. This he followed with " Don Carlos," a mediocre rhymed tragedy, which, nevertheless, had the lengthy run of ten consecutive nights. As his name as a playwright became established, an over-indulgence in drink threatened his prospects. He conceived an absorbing

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censured him for preventing a foul outrage done him by one of their number, zvho has tried to rob him of the dearest object of his affections. Jaffier, on the other hand, has joined the plot because he is a desperate man, zvhose heavy debts prevent him from maintaining his beloved wife Belvidera in that state to which her birth and his love entitle her. He has just returned from being enrolled among the conspirators, having first, as a pledge of his faith, handed over Belvidera to the care of Renault, one of the most prominent of his new associates. Belvidera: Tell me, be just, and tell' me