Now while thus they communed, their galley fled onward, and drew nigh To that seaward-fronting castle; and now did the King espy
High up at the open casements full many a maiden fair,
And his spirit within him was troubled that he wist not who they were.
Then of his comrade Siegfried straightway questioned he:
“Look upon yonder maidens, and say, be they known unto thee,
Even they which be downward gazing o’er the sea as we draw anigh?
Whosoe’er be their lord, of a surety is their bearing proud and high.”
Then spake the valiant Siegfried: “Look keenly and closely now
On the faces of yonder maidens, and then confess to me thou
Which wouldst thou take, were the choosing accorded to thee as of right.”
“Yea, that will I,” answered Gunther, that keen and valiant knight.
“I mark, of all those fair ones, at yonder casement one;
It is she in the snow-white raiment: like unto her is there none.
She of mine eyes is the chosen: so sweet is her beauty’s pride,
That, an I might have the decision, it is she that should be my bride.”
“By the sight of the eyes hast thou chosen, and a fair choice have they found!
Even she is the noble Brunhild, of the beauty world-renowned,
{p. 54}
The Star of thine heart’s strong yearning, the choice of thy mind and thy will.”
King Gunther gazed, and he deemed her ever sweeter and fairer still.
Then that Daughter of Kings commanded that her winsome maidens should go
From the casements: she would not suffer that there they stand for a show
And a feast for the eyes of strangers. Was none dared disobey;
Yet that which they did thereafter is told in the ancient lay.
They arrayed them in fairest adorning for the stranger knights to see—
As fair maids have done ever, since time began to be;—
Thereafter through half-drawn curtains they peered, those dainty spies,
At the heroes, to feed fair woman’s immemorial desire of the eyes.
There were four, and none other heroes which came unto that land.
Bold Siegfried led a war-steed from the galley’s side to the strand.
And the lovely ladies peering through the casements saw that thing,
And they deemed that exceeding worship was rendered to the King.
There in their sight was he holding that gallant steed by the rein,
That stately battle-trampler, strong and of noble strain;
Yea, he held it till King Gunther firm in the saddle sat.
So served him Siegfried—service that thereafter he wholly forgat!
Then brought he forth of the galley his own good steed withal.
Never ere then had he rendered the service done by a thrall,
That he should stand by the stirrup while heroes mounted the selle!
And those fair ones from the casements that gazed saw all full well.
In the selfsame fashion accoutred were those princely heroes twain;
For white as snow were their horses, and their raiment white without stain.
As the one was, so was the other; and lovely the shield-rims shone
On the arms of the heroes hanging, flashing brightness like to the sun.
Gleaming with precious gemstones were saddle and breast-band strait.
So rode they in princely fashion before Brunhild’s palace-gate;
And a chiming of bells all-golden that hung from their trappings was heard
As they came into that far country by their princely hearts on-stirred.
{p. 55}
With spear-head newly-whetted, with goodly-fashioned sword
Which hung even down to the spur-tips, on rode each kingly lord.
Yea, the glaives of the mighty-hearted were broad of blade and keen.
And all was marked of Brunhild, that noble maiden-queen.
And with these two princes Dankwart and his brother Hagen came;
And these were arrayed, as telleth the tale of olden fame,
In raiment of raven blackness, with rich work broidered o’er.
New, long and broad and goodly withal were the shields that they bore.
From the far land of India came many a precious stone
From the which up and down their vesture was a starry splendour thrown.
Their galley all unwarded they left, in the surf as it swayed.
So they rode to the castle-porchway, those heroes unafraid.
They marked towers six and eighty that crowned that fortress-wall,
Three palaces wide-builded, and a goodly feasting-hall:
It was wrought of the lordly marble, as the lealand grass it was green;
And therein amidst of her people sat a child of kings, the Queen.
Bars clanged and bolts shot backward, the gates of the burg swung wide.
Forth running to meet the strangers the knights of Brunhild hied,
And received them as guests be welcomed, into their Lady’s land;
And they took in charge the war-steed, and received the shield from the hand.
And a chamberlain bespake them: “Yield up your swords unto us,
And withal your gleaming hauberks.” “We will nowise suffer it thus;
Ourselves be minded to bear them!” cried Hagen of Troneg the grim.
Then Siegfried turned, and the manner of the kingdom set forth unto him:
“In this burg is it ever the custom according to that I say,
That the Queen’s guests go unweaponed within her courts alway.
Hence from our hands let them bear them, so all shall be done aright.”
Grudging and loth was the yielding of Hagen, Gunther’s knight.
They poured them the wine of welcome, they led them to chambers fair.
Knights many swift in service in the halls of the palace there were
That to and fro were hasting clad all in goodly array;
Yet, for all their splendour, their glances to those goodlier four would stray.
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Now word is brought unto Brunhild, and the tale to her ears hath come
Of those unknown knights-errant which have fared to her island-home
Sailing over the sea-flood, and attired each man like a king.
Then the Maiden royal and lovely fell to questioning:
And thus spake the Maid-queen Brunhild: “Now shall ye tell unto me
Who the unknown knights-errant may peradventure be
Whom yonder I see in my castle, each man like a kingdom’s lord;
And for love of whom these heroes have journeyed hitherward.”
Then of her train one answered: “I needs must own, O Queen,
That of yonder company no man heretofore have I seen;
Yet amidst them is one man standing who beareth Siegfried’s guise;
And in loyal love I counsel, receive him in gracious wise.
And the second his comrade appeareth so worship-worthy to me,
That if haply he wield power royal, a king may he verily be
Over princely domains far-stretching, if he hold such sway indeed;
For he stands mid the rest, meseemeth, as one of royal seed.
For the third of these faring-fellows, he seemeth stern of mien,
Yet none the less of stateliest stature, O mighty Queen.
Swift, keen be his glances as lightning, and flash still to and fro:
Dour and quick unto anger his spirit shall be, I trow.
For the youngest, of all praise worthy he seemeth in mine eyes.
A gallant knight we account him, yet withal of such winsome guise
That the grace of a maiden shineth through all his mien high-born;
Yet verily might all tremble to deal to him scathe or scorn.
For all his gentle bearing and his goodlihead withal,
Yet many a comely woman should weep for her lover’s fall,
If his wrath to the battle were kindled: right sinewy-shapen is he,
In all manner of knightly virtues a flower of chivalry.”
Then spake that Daughter of Princes: “Bring royal raiment to me.
Now if yon mighty Siegfried to my country be come oversea
To seek my love in his wooing, he imperilleth his life.
Nowise I dread him so sorely as to stoop to be his wife!”
{p. 57}
So Brunhild the passing lovely full soon was splendour-arrayed;
And there in her train paced hallward many a winsome maid:
Five-score, nay more peradventure, all costly-vestured came:
And to look on the guests with Brunhild went many a noble dame.
To right and to left went marching strong thanes of Isenland,
Vassal-knights of Brunhild, each man with his sword in his hand,
Five hundred, yea more, it may be—for the guests an evil sight!
Then rose from their seats at her coming the Four, those men of might.
Now when that Daughter of Princes looked upon Siegfried’s face—
Would ye know of her greeting?—she bespake him with cold and stately grace:
“Now welcome be thou, O Siegfried, in thy coming to this my land.
What meaneth this your journey?—prithee, cause me to understand.”
“Exceeding thank do I render, O Daughter of Princes, to thee,
That thou deignest to greet me, Brunhild, Lady of Courtesy,
Before this knight hath been greeted, who standeth before me in place,
For that he is my liege-lord:—Siegfried could well have foregone such grace!
He is the King of Rhineland—what need I say of him more?
All for thy love have we voyaged far overseas to thy shore.
Fixed is his heart to woo thee, whatsoever thereof betide.
While yet there is time, bethink thee:—my lord turns never aside.
He hath to name King Gunther; wide is his royal domain.
For thy love he comes hitherward wooing; nought else he desireth to gain.
Forasmuch as he hath commanded, on this journey have I too come.
If so be he were not my liege-lord, sooth, I had forborne therefrom.”
She answered: “If thou be his vassal, and he thy suzerain,
Then must he abide the trial, the tests that I ever ordain.
If he stand at the end the victor, I yield myself his wife;
But if I overcome—bethink you, ye all have staked your life.”
Then out spake Hagen of Troneg: “Suffer us, Queen, to see
To what manner of play thou dost challenge. Ere Gunther my lord unto thee
Shall yield up the mastery, surely he shall strive with bitter strain.
A maiden so passing lovely full well to his wife might he gain.”
{p. 58}
“He shall cast the massy quoit-stone, and far as it flies shall he leap,
And shall hurl against me the javelin—hold not this trial cheap!
Ye may lose not honour only: your life and limb be at stake.
Therefore, I rede you, bethink you!” So that fair woman spake.
Then Siegfried the battle-helper drew the King apart,
And he prayed him to speak out boldly all that was in his heart
Unto the Queen replying—“Fear not for the end,” he said;
“By my cunning devices against her full well will I shield thine head.”
Then answered and spake King Gunther: “O child of a royal line,
Lay on me what task thou pleasest: were it harder than this of thine,
Yet for the sake of thy beauty I abide all willingly.
If thou be not won by my wooing, then smite mine head from me.”
So soon as the words had been spoken, straightway that Amazon-maid
Commanded, as meet she deemed it, that the trial be not delayed;
And she caused them to bring her armour, and array for the contest grim,
Even a golden hauberk and a shield of ample rim.
A silk-lined battle-tunic about her that maiden drew—
Nor point nor edge of weapon in fight might pierce it through—
Of fine-dressed fells of lions from the land of Libya brought,
With broidery round its borders flashing radiant-wrought.
Meanwhile her knights were galling those guests with threat and jeer:
And there stood Dankwart and Hagen exceeding heavy of cheer;
For their souls foreboded the issue that might to their lord betide;
And they said in their hearts: “This journey shall we knights dearly abide!”
But Siegfried the while, the resourceful, hath hasted swiftly away,
Ere any was ware of his going, unto where the galley lay;
And he found the Hood of Darkness in its secret hiding-place there,
And with speed he did it upon him, and none thereof was ware.
With speed he returned: of her warriors found he a great array
In the place by the Queen appointed for the wooer’s perilous play:
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But he passed through the midst of them stealthwise, and still was beheld of none
Of the multitude there thronging: by magic thus was it done.
For the lists a wide ring drew they where that grim sport should be
In the presence of knights of Brunhild, that the trial all might see,
Bold warriors full seven hundred; and their weapons of war all bare;
And whoso prevailed in the contest, the truth should these declare.
Now in the lists stood Brunhild, in her mail of the adamant rings,
As though she would straight do battle for the land of all earth’s kings.
And all her silken vesture was with gold bands lapped about;
But thereunder the lilies and roses of her lovely flesh shone out.
Now came to the lists her henchmen, and unto her hands they brought
A goodly shield of battle: of the ruddy gold was it wrought
With bands of steel hard-welded, a thing for a giant to sway:
And under that mighty heart-fence would the fair one play the play.
From left unto right within it did a goodly arm-brace pass
With emeralds set thereover, green as the lealand grass;
And their sight-bewildering sparklings flashed o’er the gold thereof.
Sooth, valour he needed and prowess who would win ............