r's land won glory. The wounded also came forth to
take part with their comrades, to skirmish with the buckler, and to shoot
the shaft, and waxed strong thereby, and increased their might.

Gunther gave order that, for the term of the hightide, they should set
before them meats of the daintiest, that he might fail in naught as a
king, nor the people blame him.

And he came to his guests, and said, "Receive my gifts ere you go hence,
and refuse not the treasure that I would share with you."

The Danes made answer, "Ere we turn again to our land, make thou a
lasting peace with us. We have need of such, that have many dear friends
dead, slain by thy warriors."

Ludgast and eke the Saxon were healed of their wounds gotten in battle,
but many tarried behind, dead.

Then Gunther sought Siegfried and said, "Now counsel me in this. On the
morrow our guests ride forth, and they desire of me and mine a lasting
covenant. What they offer I will tell thee: as much gold as five hundred
horses may carry, they will give me to go free."

And Siegfried answered, "That were ill done. Send them forth without
ransom, that they ride no more hither as foemen. And they shall five
thee the hand thereon for surety."

And they told it to his enemies; also that none desired their gold. They
said it to the war-tired men, by reason of whom the dear ones of their
own land sorrowed.

And the king took shields full of treasure, and divided it among them
without weighing it, five hundred marks and more. Gernot, the brave
knight, counselled him thereto. And they took their leave, for they were
aweary for home. And they passed before Kriemhild and Queen Uta; never
were knights dismissed more courteously.

The chambers were void when they left, nevertheless the king abode there
still with his lieges and his vassals and knights. And these ceased not
to go before Kriemhild.

Then Siegfried, the hero, had also taken leave, for he thought not to
attain his desire. But the king heard of it, and Giselher the youth
turned him back. "Whither ridest thou, Sir Siegfried? Prithee yield to
me in this. Go not from among our knights, and Gunther, and his men.
Here are fair maidens enow that thou mayest behold at will."

Said bold Sir Siegfried, "Let stand the horses, bear hence the shields.
I would have ridden forth and turned again to my land, but Giselher hath
changed my intent."

So he abode among them through love, nor in any land had it