Do Not Disavow

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Do Not Disavow By: Rick Davis   When Charlemagne established law Salic in barb’rous land, The gospel flourished, and he saw Christ’s praise on every hand.   (“Do you approve his methods now?”) I do not disavow.   King Godfrey took Jerusalem From bloody paynim hands And brought a halt to Musselmen Invading Christian lands.   (“He did some mean things anyhow!”) I do not disavow.   King Richard with his scarlet shield And passant lions ‘bossed Rode forth again unto the field To regain what was lost.   (“His deeds at Acre you allow?”) I do not disavow.   Unto the Germans Luther brought The gospel full restored, And Calvin at Geneva taught The glory of the Lord.   (“The Jews? Servetus? Holy cow!”) I do not disavow.   Stonewall and Lee like knights of old Fought for their native soil, The true and lovely to uphold Against the tyrant’s spoil.   (“Those vile racists ...
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Life Lessons from the Nibelungenlied

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A year after I began, I'm halfway through The Nibelungenlied. It's not as if I've been reading it this whole time. I put it down and picked it up again a couple of weeks ago. It's not quite as satisfying as the Icelandic rendition of the same legend, The Volsungasaga. Nevertheless, I'm learning several important life lessons to store away for the future. After all, isn't that what great literature is for? So here are some of the lessons of The Nibelungenlied:


1- Always bathe in dragon's blood in the Spring or Summer, never in Autumn (falling leaves are a bad thing in such cases).


2- If another man asks you to beat up his wife because she doesn't love him, just say, "No."


3- If you do beat up his wife, don't take her ring and give it to your wife (that is, if you have any hope of your wives being good friends).


4- If everyone is going around everywhere whispering, and getting really quiet when you enter the room, you should worry.


5- If your wife sews your clothes, make sure she doesn't embroider any 'X's over the only part of your body that is not invulnerable.


These are the things I've gleaned so far. If I learn anything new, I shall duly report it.

Comments

Anonymous said…
I don't think it is a ring he takes.... I believe it is something much more, uh, "intimate", thus suggestive of domination in the bedroom. If a man not your husband were to be found to have been in possession of a certain undergarment, would it not be the ultimate insult to someone like Brunhilde?

That was always my understanding, and the one our professor explicated (and he spoke gaelic, german, norse, and the ancient nordic languages... he was very similar to Tolkien).

-WDH
30 March, 2009 08:36
Rick Davis said…
Interesting. Alas, I am bound by the translation, which was made in 1901, so I can definitely see how it may have been toned down a bit. I'll have to check the endnotes to see if it mentions this. Thanks for the insight!
30 March, 2009 10:35
Anonymous said…
David Hoffer was the leaver of the above message, and is me.

Sorry to have left out that fact. But yeah, I remember the word that was used in my translation: girdle.
31 March, 2009 14:08
Rick Davis said…
This comment has been removed by the author.
31 March, 2009 15:54
Rick Davis said…
Hey, Mary Beth guessed it was you when she saw the WDH, but I was skeptical. Guess she was right. I looked back in my copy and it does say that he took her ring and her girdle. I guess I had forgotten the girdle part since the cursed magic ring was the big part of the Volsungasaga.

On another note, how are you guys doing?
31 March, 2009 19:51
Anonymous said…
Well, thanks. Moving right along with life, etc.

Teaching still agrees with you, I see.

WDH
01 April, 2009 13:32
Erica said…
Words to live by. :D
08 April, 2009 10:48
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