queen said to one
another: "Surely one of the Asas has come hither; for the array of
this stranger shines with the gold-gleam, and his horse is mightier
than other horses, and the man himself excels in bearing all that we
have ever seen."

So the king went out with his court to greet Sigurd, and asked: "Who
art thou, who ridest into my kingdom without the leave of my sons, as
none have dared to do before?"

And he answered: "Sigurd am I, the son of Sigmund."

And the king said: "Be thou welcome here then, and take from our hands
whatsoever thou wilt have."

So for a time Sigurd lived in great honour at the court of the
Niblungs, from whence he fared forth upon many adventures with the
princes of that land, and ever was he foremost of them all.

During this time Brunhild was always in his memory, and he talked so
often of her that at length the evil heart of Grimhild, the queen, was
roused to jealousy. She bethought herself that, could he but be made
to forget the maiden of the Flaming Castle, he might marry Gudrun, her
daughter; and so all the wealth of Andvari's hoard might remain in the
court of the Niblungs for ever. On a day, therefore, she mixed a magic
potion, and gave it to Sigurd, saying:

"We have great joy in thy visit here, and would give thee the best
that we enjoy. Now take this horn, and drink therefrom."

So he drank with gladness; and from that moment all remembrance of
Brunhild was blotted from his mind, as though she had never been. And,
as the queen had hoped, he began to look with eyes of affection upon
Gudrun, the fair maiden whom he saw every day, so that the Niblung
princes, who had grown to love and honour Sigurd more and more, came
to him and said: "Great good thou hast brought us, Sigurd, and
exceeding strength thou givest to our realm. We pray thee therefore to
abide with us for ever, and thou shalt have rule in our land, and we
will give thee our sister in marriage, whom another man would not get
for all his prayers." Then the heart of the Volsung responded, and
they swore brotherhood together, even as if they were children of one
father and mother; and in due time Gudrun was married to Sigurd with
all joy and festivity.

Yet, in the midst of all this glee, a strange feeling oppressed the
heart of Sigurd. Some old memory seemed to be striving within him,
but, try as he would, he could not give it definite shape.

Time passed and King Giuki died, Gunnar, his son, succeeding him. An