ried
was the bravest of them all.

When the hero returned, a great celebration was held in his honor, and
Kriemhild, Ute and all the ladies of the court were invited to be
present at the tournament. It was there that Siegfried first saw the
fair maiden. Her beauty was more wonderful than he had ever been able to
imagine. What was his delight, then, to learn that he had been appointed
her escort.

On the way to the tournament Kriemhild murmured her thanks for the good
work Siegfried had done for her, and Siegfried vowed that he would
always serve her brothers because of his great love for her.

Soon after the tournament Gunther announced his intention of winning for
his wife, Brunhild, the princess of Issland, who had vowed to marry no
man but the one who could surpass her in jumping, throwing a stone and
casting a spear. Gunther proposed that Siegfried go with him, promising
him, in return for his services, the hand of Kriemhild. Such an offer
was not to be despised, and Siegfried immediately consented; advising
Gunther to take only Hagen and Dankwart with him.

Gunther and the three knights set out in a small vessel. Siegfried bade
his companions represent him as Gunther's vassal only; but Brunhild,
seeing his giant figure and guessing its strength, imagined that he had
come to woo her. She was dismayed, therefore, when she heard that he had
held the stirrup for Gunther to dismount. When he entered her hall, she
advanced to meet him; but he drew aside, saying that honor was due to
his master Gunther.

Brunhild ordered preparations for the evening contest, and Gunther,
Hagen and Dankwart trembled when they saw four men staggering under the
weight of Brunhild's shield and three more staggering under the weight
of her spear. Siegfried, meantime, had donned his magic cloud cloak and
bade Gunther rely upon his aid.

The combat opened. Brunhild poised her spear and flung it with such
force that both heroes staggered; but before she could cry out her
victory Siegfried had caught the spear and flung it back with such
violence that the princess fell and was obliged to acknowledge defeat.

Undaunted, she caught up a huge stone, flung it far into the distance,
and then leaping, alighted beside it. No sooner had she done this than
Siegfried seized the stone, flung it still farther, and lifting Gunther
by his broad girdle bounded through the air with him and alighted beyond
the stone. Then Brunhild knew that she had found h