ny then, "Methinketh that were unwise. Ludgast and
Ludger are proud men withal, and we can hardly in so few days muster our
men." Therefore the bold knight said, "Tell Siegfried."

They bade lodge the envoys in town. Albeit they were his foemen,
Gunther, the great king, commanded the folk to entreat them well--rightly
he did so--till that he knew the friends that would stand by him.

The king was heavy of his cheer, and Siegfried, the good knight, saw that
he was downcast, but wist not the reason, and asked King Gunther what
ailed him. "I marvel much," said Siegfried, "that thou takest no part in
our sports as heretofore." And Gunther, the doughty knight, answered
him, "Not to every man may I declare the secret heaviness of my heart;
only unto true friends shall the heart tell its dole."

Siegfried changed colour, and grew red and white, and he said to the
king, "I have denied thee naught, and now I would help thee. If thou
seekest friends, I will be one of them, and stand to it truly to my
life's end."

"Now God requite thee, Sir Siegfried, for I like thy word; and albeit thy
might availed me nothing, I would rejoice none the less that thou art
well-minded toward me; as much and more will I do to thee if I live. I
will tell thee the cause of my trouble. Envoys from my foemen have
brought a message that with an army they will come against me; such
inroad of warriors hath not been aforetime in this country."

"Be not sorrowful for that," answered Siegfried; "be of good cheer, and
do now as I say. I will win for thee honour and profit or ever thy
foemen reach this land. Had they stark adversaries thirty thousand
warriors at their back, and I but one thousand, I would withstand
them--trust me for that."

King Gunther answered, "Thou shalt be well paid for this."

"Give me a thousand of thy knights, since of mine own I have but twelve
here with me, and I will keep thy land for thee. The hand of Siegfried
will serve thee truly. Hagen shall help us in this, and also Ortwin,
Dankwart, and Sindolt, thy loving knights, and eke Folker, the bold man,
who shall bear the standard: better knight thou wilt not find. Bid the
envoys return to their country; tell them they shall see us there soon
enow. So shall our castles go scatheless."

The king let summon his kinsmen and his liegemen, and Ludger's messengers
went to the court. They were glad to be gone. Gunther, the good king,
gave them gifts and an escort, wh