With a good wind to help them down stream, toward the sea.
Their steadfast toil was later those brave ones’ woe to be.
382
Upon the twelfth day morning, as we have heard men say,
The wind had borne the vessel far distant, and away
Toward Isenstein the fortress, in Queen Brunhilda’s land:
To all of them, save Siegfried, it was an unknown strand.
383
Now, when the royal Gunther so many towers did see,
And eke so wide a marchland, he spake, all suddenly:
“Tell me, my good friend Siegfried, if it be known to thee,
Whose are these many castles, and this fair land we see?”
384
Then answered Siegfried: “Truly it is to me well known:
This people and this country doth Queen Brunhilda own,
And Isenstein’s her fortress, as you have heard me say;—
And many comely women you well might see this day.
385
“I’ll give ye heroes counsel all of one mind to be—
Agree in all your discourse— so seemeth best to me.
If we to-day, as may be, before Brunhilda go,
We shall need all our prudence to deal with her, I trow.
386
“When we behold that fair one, attended by her train,
One speech, and but one only, ye heroes must maintain:
King Gunther is my chieftain, and of his men I’m one;
Thereby what he hath purposed shall all be duly done.”
387
They ready were to promise whate’er he asked of them;
With all their pride o’erweening none did his word contemn.
They vowed whate’er he wanted: so better did they fare,
What time the royal Gunther beheld Brunhilda fair.
388
“This not so much for thy sake, I do,” Sir Siegfried said,
“As for love of thy sister— the ever-beauteous maid!
She’s as my soul unto me, and as my very life;
I’ll gladly do this service, so her I win to wife!”
Adventure VII
How Gunther Won Brunhilda
389
Now, while all this was passing, their ship had neared unto
The castle walls, so closely that the king’s eyes could view
Above them, at the windows, full many a winsome maid.
That he knew none amongst them made Gunther passing sad.
390
Then questioned he Sir Siegfried, his brave companion:
“Of all those lovely maidens, dost thou in truth know none,
Who now are gazing downward at us upon the flood?
Whoe’er their lord and master, they be of noble blood.”
391
To him replied Sir Siegfried: “Now look you, secretly,
Amidst the maids there standing, and then confess to me
Which you would take among them, if you thereto had might.”
“That will I do!” cried Gunther, the bold and valiant knight.
392
“Yonder, within that window, I see one of them stand
All in a snow-white garment; she’s fairest of the band!
’Tis her mine eyes have chosen, so fair she is to see:
Had I the power to wed her, my wife she needs must be.”
393
“The judgment of thine eyesight hath done for thee right well!
That is the noble Brunhild, the maiden beautiful,
Whom all thine heart desireth, thy senses, and thy mood.”
In all ways did her bearing seem to King Gunther good.
394
The queen her beauteous maidens did thereupon command
To leave the windows straightway: they ought not there to stand,
A gazing-stock for strangers! they readily obey’d.
And what the ladies next did hath since to us been said:
395
They decked themselves for sake of the visitors unknown,
As comely women ever since days of old have done.
Then to the narrow windows they quickly came again,
Whence they could see the heroes— and gazed with might and main.
396
There were of them four only, who came unto the land.
Bold Siegfried now was leading a horse along the sand;
The comely dames beheld him, across the window shelf:
Whilst Gunther thought with pride that they gazed upon himself.
397
He held it by the bridle— the shapely animal,
It was so sleek and handsome, so big and strong withal—
Until the king had mounted, and in the saddle sat.
Thus Siegfried did him service; which he erelong forgat.
398
Then Siegfried fetched his own steed, which in the ship did stay;
Such service had he rendered but seldom till that day,
To stand at a man’s stirrup, until he was astride!
The fair and noble ladies this from their lattice spied.
399
These two high-mettled heroes— to one ensample clad—
White chargers and white raiment like snow new-fallen had,
Each matching with the other; their solid bucklers bright
Shone, on the left hand hanging of either goodly knight.
400
Bejewell’d were their saddles, their saddle-bows were small;
So rode they in their glory, before Brunhilda’s hall.
The bells upon their harness were wrought of bright red gold,
They came unto that country as bound on venture bold.
401
With spear-heads newly sharpened, with swords well-wrought and keen,
Which hung down to the rowels of these two goodly men;
Such weapons bore the bold ones, with broad and sharp-edged blade.
’Twas all marked by Brunhilda, the great and noble maid.
402
With them came also Dankwart, and Hagen of Tronjé.
These warriors were apparell’d, as ancient legends say,
Alike, in costly raiment and raven-black of hue;
Fair were their shields and mighty, and strong and broad thereto.
403
The jewels that adorned them from India’s land were brought,
And glittered on their garments, as these the sunshine caught.
Their little vessel left they unguarded, on the flood;
So rode they to the castle, these heroes brave and good.
404
Full six-and-eighty turrets they saw within the wall,
Three palaces far-stretching, and one fair, well-built hall,
Compact of precious marble, as meadow-grass all green;
And here, amid her court-folk, awaited them the queen.
405
The castle gate unlock’d was, the doors were open thrown,
Brunhilda’s liegemen hasted to meet these guests unknown,
To welcome these newcomers unto their lady’s land;
They bade men take their horses and bucklers from their hand.
406
A chamberlain said to them: “Yield now your swords to us,
And eke your shining hauberks.” “Nay, it shall not be thus!”
Cried Hagen, lord of Tronjé, “These we ourselves will bear!”
Then Siegfried had to teach him what were the customs there.
407
“The fashion in this castle, as you must understand,
Is that no guest shall carry a weapon in his hand.
So let them hence be taken: in sooth, ’tis fairly meant.”
Then Hagen, Gunther’s liegeman, did grudgingly consent.
408
Wine for the guests was order’d, and lodgings good prepared.
And to and from the palace swift-footed warriors fared—
All clad in princely raiment they ever came and went;
And on the stranger-heroes were wond’ring glances bent.
409
Then unto Queen Brunhilda some one the news declared,
That certain unknown warriors had suddenly appear’d,
In glorious apparel, by ship across the flood.
Whereon began to question the maiden fair and good.
410
“I would that someone told me,” so spake the maiden queen,
“Who are these stranger-warriors, that ne’er afore were seen,
And now stand in my castle, with such a noble grace?
And for whose sake these heroes have voyaged to this place?”
411
Then spake one of her people: “Lady, I must avow
Not one of these same warriors I e’er beheld till now;
But there is one among them much like unto
