"Now tell me, good Knight Siegfried, before our trip begin, shall we
not take warriors with us into Brunhild's land, that we may come with
passing honors to the sea? Thirty thousand men-at-arms can soon be
called."

"However many men we take," quoth Siegfried, "the queen doth use so
fierce a wont that they must perish through her haughty pride. I'll give
thee better counsel, O brave and worthy king. Let us fare as wandering
knights adown the Rhine, and I will tell thee those that shall be of the
band. In all four knights, we'll journey to the sea and thus we'll woo
the lady, whatever be our fate thereafter. I shall be one of the four
comrades, the second thou shalt be. Let Hagen be the third (then have
we hope of life), Dankwart then the fourth, the valiant man. A thousand
others durst not match us in the fight."

"Gladly would I know," spake then the king, "ere we go hence ('t would
please me much), what garments we should wear before Brunhild, which
would beseem us there. Pray tell this now to Gunther."

"Weeds of the very best which can be found are worn all times in
Brunhild's land. We must wear rich clothes before the lady, that we feel
no shame when men shall hear the tidings told."

The good knight spake: "Then will I go myself to my dear mother, if
perchance I can bring it to pass that her fair maids purvey us garments
which we may wear with honor before the high-born maid."

Hagen of Troneg spake then in lordly wise: "Wherefore will ye pray your
mother of such service? Let your sister hear what ye have in mind, and
she'll purvey you well for your journey to Brunhild's court."

Then sent he word to his sister, that he would fain see her, and Knight
Siegfried, too, sent word. Ere this happed the fair had clad her passing
well. That these brave men were coming, gave her little grief. Now were
her attendants, too, arrayed in seemly wise. The lordings came, and when
she heard the tale, from her seat she rose and walked in courtly wise to
greet the noble stranger and her brother, too.

"Welcome be my brother and his comrade. I'd gladly know," so spake the
maid, "what ye lords desire, sith ye be thus come to court. Pray let me
hear how it standeth with you noble knights."

Then spake king Gunther: "My lady, I'll tell you now. Maugre our lofty
mood, yet have we mickle care. We would ride a-wooing far into foreign
lands, and for this journey we have need of costly robes."

"Now sit you down, dear brother," s