words in hand. This the strangers rued. From their seats then the brave
and lusty heroes rose. When that the queen spied Siegfried, now hear
what the maid did speak.

"Be ye welcome, Siegfried, here in this our land! What doth your journey
mean? That I fain would know."

"Gramercy, my Lady Brunhild, that ye have deigned to greet me, most
generous queen, in the presence of this noble knight who standeth here
before me, for he is my liege lord. This honor I must needs forswear. By
birth he's from the Rhine; what more need I to say? For thy sake are we
come hither. Fain would he woo thee, however he fare. Methink thee now
betimes, my lord will not let thee go. He is hight Gunther and is a
lordly king. An' he win thy love, he doth crave naught more. Forsooth
this knight, so well beseen, did bid me journey hither. I would fain
have given it over, could I have said him nay."

She spake: "Is he thy liege and thou his man, dare he assay the games
which I mete out and gain the mastery, then I'll become his wife; but
should I win, 't will cost you all your lives."

Then up spake Hagen of Troneg: "My lady, let us see your mighty games.
It must indeed go hard, or ever Gunther, my lord, give you the palm. He
troweth well to win so fair a maid."

"He must hurl the stone and after spring and cast the spear with me. Be
ye not too hasty. Ye are like to lose here your honor and your life as
well. Bethink you therefore rightly," spake the lovely maid.

Siegfried, the bold, went to the king and bade him tell the queen
all that he had in mind, he should have no fear. "I'll guard you well
against her with my arts."

Then spake King Gunther: "Most noble queen, now mete out whatso ye list,
and were it more, that would I all endure for your sweet sake. I'll
gladly lose my head, and ye become not my wife."

When the queen heard this speech, she begged them hasten to the games,
as was but meet. She bade purvey her with good armor for the strife: a
breastplate of ruddy gold and a right good shield. A silken surcoat, (2)
too, the maid put on, which sword had never cut in any fray, of silken
cloth of Libya. Well was it wrought. Bright embroidered edging was seen
to shine thereon.

Meanwhile the knights were threatened much with battle cries. Dankwart
and Hagen stood ill at ease; their minds were troubled at the thought of
how the king would speed. Thought they: "Our journey will not bring us
warriors aught of good."

Meanwhile Siegfried,