however, no connection with Iceland in spite of the
agreement of the names in German. "Isen lant", the reading
of the MSS. BJh, has been chosen, partly to avoid confusion,
and partly to indicate its probable derivation from
"Isenstein", the name of Brunhild's castle. Boer's
interpretation of "Isen" as 'ice' finds corroboration in
Otfrid's form "isine steina" ('ice stones', i.e. crystals)
I, 1. 70. Isenstein would then mean Ice Castle. In the
"Thidreksaga" Brunhild's castle is called "Saegarthr" ('Sea
Garden'), and in a fairy tale (No. 93 of Grimm) "Stromberg",
referring to the fact that it was surrounded by the sea.
Here, too, in our poem it stands directly on the shore.
(2) "Zazamanc", a fictitious kingdom mentioned only here and a
few times in Parzival, Wolfram probably having obtained the
name from this passage. (See Bartsch, "Germanistische
Studien", ii, 129.)
(3) "Wont to wear". In the Middle Ages costly furs and
fish-skins were used as linings and covered, as here
described, with silk or cloth. By fish such amphibious
animals as otter and beaver were often meant.
(4) "Well fit". In this passage "wert", the reading of A and D,
has been followed, instead of unwert of B and C, as it seems
more appropriate to the sense.
(5) "Dight", 'arrayed'; used by Milton.
(6) "Brunhild". The following words are evidently a late
interpolation, and weaken the ending, but have been
translated for the sake of completeness. They are spoken by
Siegfried.

ADVENTURE VII. How Gunther Won Brunhild.

Meanwhile their bark had come so near the castle that the king saw many
a comely maiden standing at the casements. Much it irked King Gunther
that he knew them not. He asked his comrade Siegfried: "Hast thou no
knowledge of these maidens, who yonder are gazing downward towards us on
the flood? Whoever be their lord, they are of lofty mood."

At this Sir Siegfried spake: "I pray you, spy secretly among the
high-born maids and tell me then whom ye would choose, and ye had the
power."

"That will I," spake Gunther, the bold and valiant knight. "In yonder
window do I see one stand in snow-white weeds. She is fashioned so fair
that mine eyes would choose her for her comeliness. Had I power, she
should become my wife."

"Right