ABSTRACT
According to the best authorities on ancient German literature, the" Nibelungenlied " is compiled from preexisting songs and rhapsodies, forming five distinct cycles of myths, but all referring in some way to the great treasure of the Nibe1ungs. One of these cycles is the Northern Volsunga Saga,! where Sigurd, Gudrun, Gunnar, H~gni, and Atli, the principal characters, correspond to Siegfried, Kriemhild, Gunther, Hagen, and Etzel of the" Nibelungenlied." The story of the German poem, which can be given only in outline, is as follows:
Dankrat and Ute, King and Queen of Burgundy, were the fortunate parents of four children: three sons, Gunther, Gernot, and Giselher; and one beautiful daughter, Kriemhild. When the king died his eldest son, Gunther, succeeded him. He reigned wisely and well, and resided at Worms, on the Rhine, his capital and favourite city.
