Author Description

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1893 edition. Excerpt:..."Ay! how is it, King Gunthur? here mast you tine your life! The lady yon would gain, well might lie the devil'f wife!" It is by the secret assistance of Siegfried, and his tarn-cap, that Gunther at length vanquishes and humbles this terrible heroine, and she avenges her humiliation by the murder of Siegfried. Around the room are sixteen full-length portraits of the other principal personages who figuni in the Nibelungen Lied--portraits they may well be called, for their extraordinary spirit, and truth of character. In one group we have the fierce Hagen, the courteous Dankwart, and between them, Volker tuning his viol; of him it is said--Bolder and more knight-like fiddler, never shone the sun upon, and he plays a conspicuous part in the catastrophe of the poem. Opposite to this group, we have queen Uta, the mother of Chrimhilde, between her sons, Gernot and Ghiselar; in another compartment, Siegmund and Sighelind, the father and mother of Siegfried. Over the window opposite to the entrance, Hagen is consulting the mermaids of the Danube, who foretell the destruction which awaits him at the courl of Etzel: and lower down on each sid of the window, King Etzel with his friend Rudiger Hid those faithful companions in arms, old Hilde-brand and Dietrich of Bern. The power of invention, the profound feeling of character, and extraordinary antiquarian knowledge displayed in these figures, should be seen to be understood. Those which most struck me (next to Chrimhilde and her husband) were the figures of the daring Hagen and the venerable queen Uta. On the ceiling, which is vaulted, and enriched with most gorgeous ornaments, intermixed with heraldic emblazonments, are four small compartments in fresco: in which are represented, the marriage of Siegfried...