her I will think no
more on women at all, or I will woo where my heart's desire is." And for
all they could say, he changed not his purpose.

Then said the king, "If thou wilt not yield in this, i'faith, I approve
thy choice, and will further thee therein as I best can. Nevertheless,
Gunther hath many mighty men, were it none other than Hagen, an arrogant
and overweening knight. I fear both thou and I must rue that thou goest
after this king's daughter."

"What harm can come thereof?" answered Siegfried. "What I win not for
the friendly asking, I will take by the prowess of my hand. I doubt not
but I shall strip him of both liegemen and lands."

But Siegmund said, "I am grieved at thy word. If it were heard at the
Rhine, thou durst not ride at all into Gunther's country. Both Gunther
and Gernot are known to me from aforetime, and by force shall none win
the maiden. That have I often heard. But if thou wilt ride thither with
warriors, I will summon my friends. They will follow thee nothing loth."

Siegfried answered, "I will not ride with an army of warriors to the
Rhine; it would shame me so to win the maiden by force. I would win her
with mine own hand. One of twelve I will forth to Gunther's land, and to
this shalt thou help me, my father Siegmund."

They gave to his knights cloaks of fur, some grey and some striped.

Sieglind his mother heard it, and sorrowed for her dear son, for fear she
might lose him by the hand of Gunther's men. The noble queen wept sore.

Siegfried went where she sat, and spake comfortably to her. "Weep not,
mother, for my sake, for I shall be without scathe among foemen. Help me
rather to the journey that I make into Burgundy, that I and my fellows
may have raiment beseeming proud knights. For this shalt thou have much
thanks."

"Since thou wilt not be turned," spake Sieglind, "I will give to thee, my
only child, the best apparel that ever knight did on, and to thy
companions, for thy journey. Thou shalt receive without stint."

The youth bowed before the queen and said, "Twelve strong we ride forth,
no more. I would have raiment for so many; for I would see with mine
eyes how it standeth with Kriemhild."

The women sat night and day, nor rested till Siegfried's mantle was
ready; for none could dissuade him from his quest. His father let forge
for him a coat of mail that might do honour to his land. Bright were the
breastplates and the helmet, and the bucklers fai