Love and Death: Part One of the Nibelungenlied, An Epic of the Dark Ages

Love and Death is part one of Jim Staack's translation of the Germanic epic poem, Das Nibelungenlied. This work first appeared in the 12th century A. D. and shares much of its Nordic and German mythology with Wagner's classic Ring operas. This is a story of love, of how Sivirt,the legendary dragon slayer, wins his bride, Kriemhilt, the beautiful princess of Burgonden and how Gunther, king of Burgonden wins his bride, Prunhilt, the wonderful queen of Iceland. It is a story of friendship and valor, of how Sivirit and Gunther become friends and how Sivrit helps Gunther on the battlefield and in his wooing of Prunhilt. It is a story of jealousy, of Prunhilt's jealousy of Kreimhilt and the jealousy of Hagene, Gunther's closest aide, of Sivrit. Finally, it is a story of betrayal. of how a fight between Kriemhilt and Prunhilt leads to the murder of Sivrit at the hands of Gunther and Hagene. The tale is told in sweeping terms and the characters are nearly all superhuman and magical. It is truly a story of love and death. But much more, it is a window into the past.