ands and brought
them all their harness. One bade lead up the steeds, for they would
ride away. Much weeping then was done by comely dames. The winsome maids
stood at the easements. A high wind stirred the ship and sails; the
proud war fellowship embarked upon the Rhine.

Then spake King Gunther: "Who shall be the captain of the ship?"

"That will I," quoth Siegfried, "I wot well how to steer you on the
flood. That know, good knights, the right water ways be well known to
me."

So they parted merrily from out the Burgundian land. Siegfried quickly
grasped an oar and from the shore the stalwart man gan push. Bold
Gunther took the helm himself, and thus the worshipful and speedy
knights set forth from land. With them they took rich food and eke good
wine, the best that could be found along the Rhine. Their steeds stood
fair; they had good easement. Their ship rode well; scant harm did hap
them. Their stout sheet-rope was tightened by the breeze. Twenty leagues
they sailed, or ever came the night, with a good wind, downward toward
the sea. These hard toils later brought the high-mettled warriors pain.

Upon the twelfth-day morning, as we hear say, the winds had borne them
far away to Isenstein in Brunhild's land. To none save Siegfried was
this known; but when King Gunther spied so many castles and broad
marches, too, how soon he spake: "Pray tell me, friend Siegfried, is it
known to you whose are these castles and this lordly land?"

Siegfried answered: "I know it well. It is the land and folk of Brunhild
and the fortress Isenstein, as ye heard me say. Fair ladies ye may still
see there to-day. Methinketh good to advise you heroes that ye be of
one single mind, and that ye tell the selfsame tale. For if we go to-day
before Brunhild, in much jeopardy must we stand before the queen. When
we behold the lovely maiden with her train, then, ye far-famed heroes,
must ye tell but this single tale: that Gunther be my master and I his
man; then what he craveth will come to pass." Full ready they were for
whatever he bade them vow, nor because of pride did any one abstain.
They promised what he would; wherefrom they all fared well, when King
Gunther saw fair Brunhild. (6)

"Forsooth I vow it less for thy sake than for thy sister's, the comely
maid, who is to me as mine own soul and body. Gladly will I bring it to
pass, that she become my wife."

ENDNOTES:
(1) "Isenland" translates here M.H.G. "Islant", which has,