When noble Gunther saw it, his courage did abate
442
And in his heart he pondered: “What e’er will be the end?
If she be a hell-devil, who can the matter mend?
Were I alive and safely once more in Burgundy,
Here, rid of love and wooing, she long might wait for me!”
443
Then outspake Hagen’s brother, the valiant Dankwart,
“Alack that we did ever on this state-journey start!
But knights we still are, surely, and it were very shame
To perish in this country, o’ermastered by a dame.
444
“I do regret right sorely that e’er I saw this land!
Had but my brother Hagen his weapon in his hand,
And I had mine! methinketh they’d be a whit more mild,
With all their pride and boasting, these vassals of Brunhild.
445
“For, know now of a surety, each one of you I warn,
No oath of peace should bind me— had I a thousand sworn.
Ere I fordone before me my master dear shall see,
This maid her life shall forfeit, how ever fair she be!”
446
“We, without let or hindrance, could surely leave this land,”
Said Hagen, Dankwart’s brother, “had we good swords in hand,
And eke the armour on us that we in battle need;
Then would this haughty woman soon change her tone indeed!”
447
Full well the noble maiden heard what the warrior said;
With smiling mouth, half-turning, she o’er her shoulder bade:
“Thinks he himself so valiant? bring them their armour then,
And let these heroes handle their keen-edged swords again.”
448
When they received their weapons, at the proud maid’s command,
For joy did Dankwart redden to hold his sword in hand:
“Now play your games, and welcome!” shouted the fearless thane,
“Gunther need fear no danger, we have our swords again!”
449
The strength of Queen Brunhilda it was a fearsome thing;
They brought her for the contest a stone into the ring—
A monstrous one and heavy, so mighty, and so round,
Twelve stalwart heroes scarcely could heave it from the ground.
450
Whene’er she threw the javelin she next would hurl this stone.
Then did the stout Burgundians within their spirit groan:
“God help us!” cried Sir Hagen, “what bride our king hath woo’d!
Hell were her proper sojourn, she’s of the Devil’s brood!”
451
Around her snow-white arms she began her sleeves to wind,
And on her hand she fastened the buckler to her mind;
Then high she poised her javelin; and so began the fight.
Gunther, and Siegfried likewise, did dread Brunhilda’s spite.
452
And were it not for Siegfried, who came unto his aid,
The king’s life had been forfeit unto the doughty maid.
The knight, unseen, approach’d him, and twitch’d him by the hand;
But Gunther quail’d: his cunning he did not understand.
453
“What was it that did touch me?” the bold man thought, and he
Look’d round and sought on all sides, but not a soul could see.
A voice said: “It is Siegfried, ’tis I, your trusty friend,
As to this queen, I pray you, let fear be at an end.”
454
He said: “Unhand the buckler, and let me carry it,
And what thou hear’st me tell thee, mark well with all thy wit:
Thine must be all the gestures, but I will do each deed.”
When Gunther understood him his heart grew light indeed.
455
“See thou conceal my cunning, and tell no man thereof:
The queen will little glory win from thee, though she scoff,
And though it be her purpose to add unto her fame:
See how she stands before thee, fearless, the noble dame!”
456
With all her strength of body, her spear the glorious maid
Against a new shield hurléd— ’twas broad and stoutly made—
Which on his arm was bearing the son of Siegelind;
Bright fire-sparks from the steel flew, as driven by the wind.
457
The blade of her stout lance-head clean through his shield did crash,
And from his close-ring’d hauberk the fire was seen to flash.
The shock of the encounter so drave the stalwart men,
That, saving for the Tarnhelm, they both had there been slain
458
Out of the mouth of Siegfried, the bold knight, gushed the blood;
But soon again upsprang he: then gripped the hero good
The spear which she had hurléd, that thro’ his buckler went,
And back it flew upon her, by Siegfried’s strong hand sent.
459
He thought: “I will not shoot her, this maid who is so fair!”
And so he turned behind him the sharp head of the spear,
And with the shaft he smote her upon her vest of steel;
So that the blow re-echoed that his stout hand did deal.
460
The fire broke from her armour, as driven by the wind;
Hard were the spear-thrusts dealt by the son of Siegelind!
So much King Gunther never had done with his own hand.
With all her strength, the maiden such blows could not withstand.
461
The beauteous Brunhilda, how soon she up did bound!
“I thank thee, noble Gunther, thy shot its mark hath found!”
She thought that he had done it by his own strength alone;—
But no, there slipt behind him a far more mighty one.
462
Away she sped full swiftly, and wrathful was her mood;
The stone aloft she lifted— this noble maid and good—
Then from her hand she hurled it with all her might and main,
And after it she leapt while her armour rang again.
463
The stone fell twelve good arms’ lengths beyond her standing-place;
But further yet the maid sprang, and cleared the stone a pace.
Then came the noble Siegfried to where the stone did lie:
’Twas Gunther that did lift it, ’twas Siegfried let it fly.
464
So bold a man was Siegfried, so mighty and so tall,
He threw the stone still further, and leapt beyond its fall.
His subtle arts had given such wondrous power of limb,
That, in the leap, King Gunther, he bore along with him.
465
Thus was the leaping over, and hurling of the stone;
And they who looked saw no one, save Gunther there alone.
The beauteous Brunhilda all red with wrath became:
For Siegfried had prevented King Gunther’s death and shame.
466
Unto her court-folk turning, she loudly spake, as she,
Across the ring, the hero all safe and sound did see:
“Come hither, quick, my kinsmen, and my good lieges all,
Ye must now to King Gunther be underlings and thrall!”
467
Then laid these stalwart warriors their weapons from their hand
At Gunther’s feet, the rich king from the Burgundian land;
Then bent to do him homage full many a dauntless knight;—
They thought that he the contest had won by his own might.
468
He gave her gentle greeting, for he was courtly bred.
Then by the hand she took him, that famous maid, and said:
She would henceforth allow him the rule and power to hold.
Right glad thereat was Hagen, the warrior brave and bold.
469
She bade the noble hero along with her to go
Into the wide-room’d palace; which being done also,
More fittingly was service paid to the noble knight.
Dankwart and Hagen glad were to see such pleasant sight.
470
Meanwhile, the ready Siegfried wisely his plans did
