TEUTONIC MYTH AND LEGEND

by DONALD A. MACKENZIE

An Introduction to the Eddas & Sagas, Beowulf, The Nibelungenlied, etc.

London, Gresham Publications 1912

CHAPTER 40

Virginal, Queen of the Mountains

The Maid–devouring Giant–Hildebrand slays Orkise–Dietrich
and the Giants–Night Battle–The Black Horseman–Slaughter of Monsters–Castle
Muter–Prince taken Prisoner–The Rescue–Janibas surrounds Virginal’s Castle–Magic
Tablet–The Avalanches–A Peerless Queen–Dietrich wins his Bride.

TIDINGS came unto Dietrich at Bern that Virginal, Queen of the Mountains,
was in sore distress because that a giant wasted her land and had perforce to
obtain as tribute, at each new moon, a fair maiden, whom he did devour.

The prince set forth with old Hildebrand to give aid to the queen, who had
great beauty, and ruled over those dwarfs and giants in the Tyrolese mountains
that never sought to do injury unto mankind. Her oppressor was named Orkise,
whose son was Janibas, an evil magician.

As the two heroes rode through the forest there came unto them a dwarf whose
name was Bibung. He guided them towards Jeraspunt, where the queen had her dwelling,
but when night came he vanished. Snow fell next morning, and the knights were
parted one from another. Ere long Hildebrand heard bitter cries, and he beheld
a fair maiden who had been taken to the forest so that the giant might obtain
her for tribute. Fairest was she of Queen Virginal’s maidens. The knight proffered
his protection and vowed to rescue her, whereat her heart was filled with gratitude
and her eyes with joy tears.

Soon the forest was shaken with dread clamour, for the giant was coming nigh
with his dogs to possess himself of his prey. Hildebrand drew his sword; not
slow was he to enter the conflict, and ere long he slew the giant and put to
flight his evil son Janibas.

The maiden returned with glad heart unto the queen, and gave tidings of how
the giant Orkise had been slain. There was great rejoicing in the castle, and
eagerly did Virginal and all her people await the coming of the heroes.

Meanwhile Dietrich fought with many of the giant’s followers. The clamour
of battle resounded far and near, and when Hildebrand hastened to his aid the
horde was overcome; many were slain and many made escape.

Together did they then go upon their way towards the palace of Jeraspunt.
Darkness came on, and they rode to the gate of the castle of Orkise, deeming
it theirs by right of conquest. But small hospitality were they shown. No sooner
did they demand entrance than fierce giants issued forth against them. Heavy
clubs they bore, and they smote fiercely, but soon they were overcome by the
valorous heroes. Then appeared a black horseman. He spake in a strange tongue,
and giants sprang up out of the earth to continue the fight. As they were cut
down others took their place, and when all the giants were slain, hissing snakes
and nameless reptiles issued forth against Dietrich and Hildebrand, so that
they had to fight constantly throughout the night. The black horseman entered
not the fray, and when dawn broke he vanished from sight. Then did the heroes
enter the castle and set at liberty three of Queen Virginal’s maidens whom they
found there.

Now, during the night the heroes slew a fierce dragon. It carried in its
jaws a brave knight whose name was Rentwin, and with him did Dietrich and Hildebrand
journey towards his father’s castle. There did they remain until their wounds
were healed.

Thereafter the prince and his veteran companion set forth with Rentwin and
his sire towards Jeraspunt. Eager was Dietrich to behold the fair maiden queen
Virginal. He spurred his steed; he rode in front, and ere long he was lost to
his fellow knights. ‘Twas ill for him that he waited not for them, because the
way was strange and wild, and he wandered from the straight path. So it chanced
that he came unto the castle of Duke Nitger, called Muter.

Now the duke had many giants, and when one of them issued forth, Dietrich
asked of him to be guided unto the palace of Queen Virginal. Answer was given
him according to his desire; but when he turned to ride away the giant smote
the hero with his club so that he fell from his horse. Then was brave Dietrich
seized and bound and thrown into a dark dungeon. The duke’s sister treated him
with kindness. But for her protection the prince would have been put to death.

When Hildebrand reached the palace of Virginal he received tidings that the
prince had been taken captive. So he hastened back unto Bern, and rode forth
with many brave knights, among whom were Wolfhart and Witege and Heime. They
laid siege to Castle Muter and fought against twelve giants. While the battle
waged fiercely, Dietrich made escape and entered the fray. Victory was then
with the heroes of Bern, and all the giants were slain.

The knights sought to put Duke Nitger to death, but his sister pleaded for
him, and his life was spared by Dietrich.

Then did they all set forth towards Jeraspunt, On their way they beheld a
dwarf riding towards them. Unto Dietrich spake the little man, and he told that
fierce Janibas had surrounded the palace of Queen Virginal with a great army,
an made demand of all her maidens and the magic jewel in her crown which gave
her power to rule over all her subjects.

So the heroes pressed onward. They climbed the mountains over ice and snow,
and soon they heard the fierce clamour of battle. The howling of the great black
dogs of Janibas was like the howling of wintry tempests; strange monsters fought
there, and the queen’s defenders were in sore straits. The voices of the giants
were loud as thunder peals.

In the midst of the battle Dietrich saw the black horseman. He knew him to
be Janibas. An iron tablet he held in his hand and wrought spells upon it. The
prince sprang upon him. His sword flashed fire. He broke in pieces the iron
tablet and slew the dread worker of evil. Then pealed the loud thunder amidst
the Tyrolese mountains; the glaciers were sundered, and avalanches fell upon
the evil army of Janibas, which suddenly vanished from sight. Soon was there
silence and peace, and an end to that dread conflict.

Queen Virginal sat alone, high throned in her mountain palace, unmoved and
beautiful; brightly gleamed the jewel in her crown. A glistening silver veil
was drawn round her body, and her maidens crouched trembling at her feet.

When the battle was ended, Dietrich made approach, and she called him “hero”,
and greeted him with love.

“No longer can I reign here in Elfland,” she spake. “Thy great deeds have
I beheld, and for thy sake I shall leave my home and my kingdom, and henceforth
live among men; for I shall be thy bride, and love thee so long as life may
last.”

Then were Dietrich and Queen Virginal wedded there with pomp and ceremony,
and elves and heroes feasted within the mountain palace, and drank wine and
made merry. Ere long Dietrich and his bride and the brave knights journeyed
together to Bern, where they were received with acclamations by the people.

Dietrich and Queen Virginal lived happily together, and when King Dietmar
died, the prince reigned in his place. Then was there peace within the kingdom;
but evil was being wrought in another land, and it was fated that King Dietrich
must become a fugitive among men ere he could triumph completely over his evil
foemen.