d shields.

Then spake a chamberlain: "Pray give us now your swords and your shining
breastplates, too."

"That we may not grant you," said Hagen of Troneg; "we ourselves will
bear them."

Then gan Siegfried tell aright the tale. "The usage of the castle, let
me say, is such that no guests may here bear arms. Let them now be taken
hence, then will all be well."

Unwillingly Hagen, Gunther's man, obeyed. For the strangers men bade
pour out wine and make their lodgings ready. Many doughty knights were
seen walking everywhere at court in lordly weeds. Mickle and oft were
these heroes gazed upon.

Then the tidings were told to Lady Brunhild, that unknown warriors were
come in lordly raiment, sailing on the flood. The fair and worthy maid
gan ask concerning this. "Pray let me hear," spake the queen, "who be
these unknown knights, who stand so lordly in my castle, and for whose
sake the heroes have journeyed hither?"

Then spake one of the courtiers: "My lady, I can well say that never
have I set eyes on any of them, but one like Siegfried doth stand among
them. Him ye should give fair greetings; that is my rede, in truth. The
second of their fellowship is so worthy of praise that he were easily
a mighty king over broad and princely lands, and he had the power and
might possess them. One doth see him stand by the rest in such right
lordly wise. The third of the fellowship is so fierce and yet withal
so fair of body, most noble queen. By the fierce glances he so oft doth
east, I ween he be grim of thought and mood. The youngest among them
is worshipful indeed. I see the noble knight stand so charmingly, with
courtly bearing, in almost maiden modesty. We might all have cause
for fear, had any done him aught. However blithely he doth practice
chivalry, and howso fair of body he be, yet might he well make many a
comely woman weep, should he e'er grow angry. He is so fashioned that in
all knightly virtues he must be a bold knight and a brave."

Then spake the queen: "Now bring me my attire. If the mighty Siegfried
be come unto this land through love of mine, he doth risk his life. I
fear him not so sore, that I should become his wife."

Brunhild, the fair, was soon well clad. Then went there with her many a
comely maid, full hundred or more, decked out in gay attire. The stately
dames would gaze upon the strangers. With them there walked good knights
from Isenland, Brunhild's men-at-arms, five hundred or more, who bore
s