The first expressions of the Germanic mind, the song of “Hildebrand,” “Gudrun,” the “Nibelungen,” have been handed down to us in a form which shows their origin to have been Netherlandish.  The first part of “Gudrun” is evidently so; and we find, as well in many of the older poems of chivalry, as “Charles and Elegast,” “Floris and Blanchefloer,” as in the national epos, intrinsic proofs that the unknown authors were from the regions of the Lower Rhine.  These elder remnants, however, can scarcely be claimed by any one of the Teutonic races, as they are the common property of all; for we find the hero Siegfried in the Scandinavian Saga, as well as in the more southern tradition.  Mr. Delepierre has translated the following song, almost Homeric in its form, which belongs to this early period, when Christianity had not obliterated the memories of barbarous days:—­

  “The Lord Halewyn knew a song:  all those
  who heard it were attracted towards him.

  “It was once heard by the daughter of the
  King, who was so beloved by her parents.

  “She stood before her father:  ’O father,
  may I go to the Lord Halewyn?’

  “’Oh, no, my child, no!  They who go to
  him never come back again.’

  “She stood before her mother:  ’O mother,
  may I go to the Lord Halewyn?’

  “’Oh, no, my child, no!  They who go to
  him never come back again.’

  “She stood before her sister:  ’O sister, may
  I go to the Lord Halewyn?’

  “’Oh, no, sister, no!  They who go to him
  never come back again.’

  “She stood before her brother:  ’O brother,
  may I go to the Lord Halewyn?’

  “’Little care I where thou goest, provided
  thou preservest thine honor and thy crown.

  “She goes up into her chamber; she clothes
  herself in her best garments.

  “What does she put on first?  A shift finer
  than silk.

  “What does she gird round her lovely
  waist?  Strong bands of gold.

  “What does she put upon her scarlet petticoat? 
  On every seam a golden button.

  “What does she set on her beautiful fair
  hair?  A massive golden crown.

  “What does she put upon her kirtle?  On
  every seam a pearl.

“She goes into her father’s stable, and takes out his best charger.  She mounts him proudly, and so, laughing and singing, rides through the forest.  When she reaches the middle of the forest, she meets the Lord Halewyn.

  “‘Hail!’ said he, approaching her, ’hail,
  beautiful virgin, with eyes so black and brilliant!’

  “They proceed together, chatting as they go.

  “They arrive at a field in which stands a
  gallows.  The bodies of several women hang
  from it.

  “The Lord Halewyn says to her:  ’As you
  are the loveliest of all virgins, say, how will
  you die?  The time is come.’