ght
to woo me from thy side. Merry and glad is my life here in our court
at Worms, and here will I dwell with thee and my three royal
brothers.'

'Nay,' said the Queen, 'speak not thus, fair daughter, for God will
send to thee a noble knight and strong.'

Yet still the maiden laughed. She knew not that even now a hero of
great renown was on his way to the royal city, a hero who already bore
the maiden's image in his heart, and hoped to win her one day for his
bride.

CHAPTER V

SIEGFRIED JOURNEYS TO WORMS

To the Netherlands, as to many another land, came rumours of the
beauty and the gentleness of the Princess Kriemhild. Siegfried at
first paid little heed to what he heard of a wonder-maid who dwelt in
the famous court of Worms. Yet by and by he began to think she was
strangely like the unknown maid whose image he carried in his heart.

When he heard that many knights had ridden far that they might see
this fair Princess, he made up his mind that he also would go thither
to the court at Worms.

Siegmund and Sieglinde had often begged the Prince to wed some great
princess. He thought, therefore, that they would be well pleased that
he was going into Burgundy to see the beautiful maiden Kriemhild.

But the King and Queen were grieved when they knew that Siegfried must
leave them. Kriemhild, it was true, was as good as she was beautiful,
but two of her brothers were proud and haughty men of Burgundy,
moreover their uncle Hagen had a grim and cruel temper, and it was he
who really ruled the land. It might be that their son would not be
welcomed to the court at Worms, and ill might betide him in a strange
country.

Yet Siegfried would have his way. He must certainly go to Burgundy to
woo the gentle maiden who had already sent many knights away, unmoved
by all their vows of courtesy and love. For, indeed, no knight yet had
the lady seen whom she would call her lord.

Then Siegmund, seeing that Siegfried had determined to go to Worms,
warned him that King Gunther was too weak to be trusted, while Hagen
his chief counsellor was so powerful at court that he might work ill
on whom he would.

As of old, the hero laughed aloud.

'Should Hagen deny what I shall ask in courtesy, he shall learn that
strong is my right hand!' cried the Prince. 'His country and his
kings I will surely wrest from him if he treat me with disdain.'

'Speak not thus foolishly,' said King Siegmund. 'Should thy wild words
be carrie