You must give him good welcome, that is in sooth my rede.
412
“The other his companion, who is so praiseworthy,
If he the power had, either some rich king he might be,
Or have the jurisdiction o’er some wide princely lands:
One sees beside the others how royally he stands.
413
“The third of these companions he is of aspect grim,
Yet, mighty Queen, right comely he seems, and fair of limb;
From those his rapid glances that he around him throws,
His mien, if I mistake not, a gruesome temper shows.
414
“The youngest knight among them seems worthy of all praise;
As gentle as a maiden, yet knightly are his ways.
How winsomely he stands there, with what a high-born mien!
And yet, if he were thwarted, we’d rue the hour, I ween.
415
“How blithe soe’er his bearing, and beautiful his form,
There’s many a goodly woman— an’ he began to storm—
That he could bring to weeping; his body fashion’d is
To excel in manly virtues— a brave, bold thane is this!”
416
Then spake the queen: “Now bring me my raiment and my gear;—
And if the mighty Siegfried to win my love is here,
And therefore to this land comes— ’tis like to cost his life!
In sooth, I do not fear him enough to be his wife.”
417
Ere long, the fair Brunhilda was fittingly array’d.
With her there came full many a beauteous serving-maid—
A hundred, perhaps, or over— attired in all their best.
These comely dames were eager to see the stranger-guest.
418
With these there went, in order, the thanes of Isenland,
The warriors of Brunhilda, each with his sword in hand,
Five hundred men, or over; whereat their hearts misgave.
Then from their seats uprose they, the heroes bold and brave.
419
When first the Queen Brunhilda perceived the knight Siegfried,
Ye would, perchance, be told of the words the maiden said:
“Be welcome,” quoth she, “Siegfried, here unto this our land.
What meaning hath your journey I fain would understand?”
420
“I proffer, dame Brunhilda, my hearty thankfulness,
That you have deigned to greet me, most generous princess,
Before this noble warrior, who stands beside me now;—
Seeing that he my lord is, such grace I disavow!
421
“By birth he is of Rhineland; and what shall I say more?
His love for thee ’tis only that brings us to this shore.
My lord doth seek to wed thee, whatever may befall;
Of this, in time, bethink thee: he will not change at all.
422
“The name he bears is Gunther, he is a mighty king.
If haply he may win thee, he asks no other thing.
’Twas this good warrior bade me upon this journey come:
An’ I had dared deny him, I’d fain have stay’d at home.”
423
She spake: “Since he’s thy master, and thou his vassal art,
I’ll stake a venture with him, if he dare play his part,
And if he gain the mast’ry, then will I be his wife;
But should I be the winner, ye all do risk your life.”
424
Then Hagen spake, of Tronjé: “O lady, let us see
This mighty game you play at; before a victory
You score off my lord Gunther, it will go hard enow!
For such a beauteous maiden he’ll count to win, I trow.”
425
“The stone he must throw boldly, then leap to where it lies;
Then hurl the javelin with me: so be ye not unwise!
Who knows? each may be losing his honour and his head!
You must bethink you therefore,” the winsome fair one said.
426
On this, the gallant Siegfried unto King Gunther went,
And bade him tell the princess his purpose and intent;
He might be for the issue without anxiety:
“I shall be there to shield you with all my craft,” quoth he.
427
Then spake the royal Gunther: “Most high and mighty queen!
Declare your task unto me; and had it harder been,
For sake of your fair body I everything would stake:
My very head I’d venture you for my wife to take.”
428
As soon as Queen Brunhilda his will and meaning knew,
She bade the games be hastened, as seemed to her but due.
And ordered them to bring her her wonted gear for fight,
A ruddy golden breastplate, and buckler round and bright.
429
A silken fighting-doublet drew over all the maid,
Such as, in closest combat, would turn the sharpest blade;
Of Lybian stuff ’twas woven, and it was deftly done;
A bright embroider’d trimming upon the border shone.
430
Meantime the stranger-warriors were eyed somewhat askance,
And Dankwart and Sir Hagen ill brooked this arrogance.
And how the king would fare, too, did weigh upon their mood.
They thought: “unto us warriors our journey bodes no good.”
431
The while these things were doing, Siegfried, the crafty one,
Had, unperceived of any, back to the vessel gone,
And found his hood of darkness, where hidden it had lain,
And swiftly slipped it on him: thus he became unseen.
432
Then back again he hastened to where the queen he found
Her fateful game arranging, with many knights around.
Invisibly he joined them: so cunningly ’twas done
That, midst the whole assembly, he was discern’d by none.
433
The ring was marked out clearly wherein the games should be;
In presence of bold warriors, who came the sport to see.
Seven hundred men and over one saw, who weapons bare:
Which of the two was winner the heroes must declare.
434
Ere long appeared Brunhilda in all her warlike gear,
As if she meant to conquer all kingdoms far and near.
Above her silken vestment was twisted golden twine:
One saw thereunder ever her lovely colour shine.
435
And then came her attendants; who in their hands did hold
A mighty round-rimmed buckler, all wrought of ruddy gold,
With steel-like clasps upon it, many, and broad, and bright;
And underneath its shelter the lovely maid would fight.
436
The maiden’s shield-sustainer a noble baldrick was,
Wherein were gems embroidered, as green as e’er was grass;
Their ever-changing brightness was mirror’d in the gold.
He who would win such lady must needs be warrior bold!
437
Her shield beneath the bosses, as we have heard declare,
Was three good spans in thickness; and this the maid could bear.
With steel and gold inlayings so richly ’twas beset,
Her chamberlains—four of them— could scarcely carry it.
438
When now the sturdy Hagen beheld this shield brought in,
The wrathful Lord of Tronjé did thus to speak begin:
“How now, King Gunther? truly we’re like to lose our life,
She, whom you would be wooing, must be the devil’s wife!”
439
Hear more now of her raiment: she had a wondrous store,
A warrior’s silken mantle from Azagaug she wore—
A noble, costly garment; from which the flash was seen,
Of many a splendid jewel pertaining to the queen.
440
Then bore they to the lady— and weighty ’twas, I trow—
A giant-spear well sharpened, which she was wont to throw;
Most strong and monstrous was it, and mighty too, and broad,
And with its keen twin-edges right terribly it gored.
441
Of that spear’s weight, now hearken and hear the wonderment:
Four and a half good measures of metal to it went.
Three of Brunhilda’s liegemen could scarce uphold its
