New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-09-28
NEW PUBLICATIONS.

QUORUM A MEDIAEvAL EPIC. Translated rom
the Middle High German by Mary Pickering Nichols
svo, DID. XIV, 1853. lloughton Mthln q To-
The lay of Gudrun, the Hegeling legend, IS a
stirring medieval epic, and though IT Is somewhat
difficult TO accept the Judgment of the German
critics who hold il second only to the Nibelungen
Lied. there can be no doubt Of its value and in
terest. If 10 falls short of the great epic of the
Nibclungen in the sustained tragic gloom ana
force and the cumulative effect with which des
tiny and disaster press the doomed actors on TO
their appointed end if il lacks the Titanic
strength and rude vigor which characterize the
Nibeungen Lied il is also free from the incessant
bloodshed which streams through the pages of the
greater poem until the modern reader fairly shud-
ders and recoils from the pitess and too detailed
pictures of slaughter. The lay of Gudrun is less
gloomy and owes far less to the NEUROLOGICAL
element 1t is more truly a series of tablcaus
drawn from the life. 1t depicts the manners and
customs of o barbarous age in glowing but
natural colors. 1t also has the advantage of q
happy ending, and the prominence given in ii TO
the qualities of faithfulness in love, patience
under suffering and womanly loyalty impaTt to it
an elevated and noble atmosphere
As in ell the medieval epics fabulous creatures,
like the griffin that carried of young Hagen. play
their part in it. but there is less magic in the lay
of Gudrun than in most of these poems, and more
solid practically, to say The dominance OF
force and the recognition of fraud as perfectly
legitimate weapon are true notes of the period
Marriage by abduction was still not unusual ar
rangement, and even-Or perhaps especially-l1ngs'
daughters were exposed to the descent of bold and
amorous pirate princes 1t may be objected by
cavaliers that after the long period of captivity
endured by Gudrun in the cruel hands of Queen
baa,, fn1a rohlu rIt
bride when rescued; for the Hegelings Ind been SO
weakened by the war in which they failed to de-
liver her that they had to wait for their revenge
until their young children had grown to manhood.
Gudrun, too must have aged abnormaly by
reason Of the hardship and exposure 10 which
Gerlinda subjected her. But such analysis is
offensive and if applied TO the record Of Helen OF
Troy would be equally notwithstanding. In epics
beautiful women do not grow old, no matter how
many years may pass, or what suhenngs thy
have 10 bear. Gudrun, like Patient Grseda,
doubtless emerged from her great trials more
radiant than ever, and Hcrwig saw in her only an
access of beauty and grace.
The translator of "Gudrun" from the Middle
High German has endeavored TO reproduce the
original measure, well as to give perfectly
faithful rendering Of the language. She says that
she has adhered to the original rhythm. and en-
deavored in each stanza TO convey strictly the
ideas of the author, being careful not to introduce
anything, in thought or smile, foreign TO the
poem and, as far as the would permit, t.
give verbal rendering" The one material
difference between Gudrun and the Nibelungen
Lied consists in the frightening of the concluding
half-lne of each stanza in the former by an adj
ditional accent. 1t must be said that the effect
of this recurrent trailing half-line is neither
graceful nor pleasing. 1t is in fact awkward,
and produces an impression, half of lameness,
half of redundancy, which nterferes TO some eX-
tent with the interest Of the poem. For the rest,
the translation is sufficiently close to retain much
of the spirit of the original and its medieval
flavor and color. In such q translation it would
be unfair to look for poetic beauty. The very
method adopted must have put that out of the
question. Mrs. Nichols however, has made
brave essay at difficult undertaking, and her
work should strengthen interest in those old
legends which restore for us so strange, stormy
and stressful period.