Thought he "'Twere sure a pity so fair a maid to slay;"

So he revers'd the jav'lin, and turn'd the point away; Yet, with the b.u.t.t-end foremost, so forceful was the throw, That the sore-smitten damsel totter'd to and fro.

LXXIV

From her mail fire sparkled as driven before the blast; With such huge strength the jav'lin by Sieglind's son was cast, That 'gainst the furious impulse she could no longer stand.

A stroke so st.u.r.dy never could come from Gunther's hand.

LXXV

Up in a trice she started, and straight her silence broke, "n.o.ble knight, Sir Gunther, thank thee for the stroke."

She thought 'twas Gunther's manhood had laid her on the lea; No! 'twas not he had fell'd her, but a mightier far than he.

LXXVI

Then turn'd aside the maiden; angry was her mood; On high the stone she lifted rugged and round and rude, And brandish'd it with fury, and far before her flung, Then bounded quick behind it, that loud her armor rung.

LXXVII

Twelve fathoms' length or better the mighty ma.s.s was thrown, But the maiden bounded further than the stone. To where the stone was lying Siegfried fleetly flew; Gunther did but lift it, th' Unseen it was, who threw.

LXXVIII

Bold, tall and strong was Siegfried, the first all knights among; He threw the stone far further, behind it further sprung.

His wondrous arts had made him so more than mortal strong, That with him as he bounded, he bore the king along.

LXXIX

The leap was seen of all men, there lay as plain the stone, But seen was no one near it, save Gunther all alone.

Brunhild was red with anger, quick came her panting breath Siegfried had rescued Gunther that day from certain death.

Lx.x.x

Then all aloud fair Brunhild bespake her courtier band, Seeing in the ring at distance unharm'd her wooer stand, "Hither, my men and kinsmen: low to my better bow; I am no more your mistress; you're Gunther's liegemen now."

Lx.x.xI

Down cast the n.o.ble warriors their weapons hastily, And lowly kneel'd to Gunther the King of Burgundy.

To him as to their sovran was kingly homage done, Whose manhood, as they fancied, the mighty match had won.

Lx.x.xII

He fair the chiefs saluted bending with gracious look; Then by the hand the maiden her conquering suitor took, And granted him to govern the land with sovran sway; Whereat the warlike n.o.bles were joyous all and gay.

Lx.x.xIII

Forthwith the n.o.ble Gunther she begg'd with her to go Into her royal palace; soon as 'twas ordered so, To his knights her servants such friendly court 'gan make, That Hagan e'en and Dankwart could it but kindly take.

Lx.x.xIV

Wise was the nimble Siegfried; he left them there a s.p.a.ce, And slily took the cloud-cloak back to its hiding-place, Return'd then in an instant, where sat the ladies fair, And straight, his fraud to cover, bespoke King Gunther there.

Lx.x.xV

"Why dally, gracious master? why not the games begin, Which by the queen, to prove you, have here appointed been?

Come, let us see the contest, and mark each knightly stroke."

As though he had seen nothing, the crafty warrior spoke.

Lx.x.xVI

"Why how can this have happened," said the o'ermaster'd queen, "That, as it seems, Sir Siegfried, the games you have not seen, Which 'gainst me good King Gunther has gain'd with wondrous might?"

The word then up took Hagan, the stern Burgundian knight;

Lx.x.xVII

"Our minds indeed you troubled, our hopes o'er-clouded dark; Meanwhile the good Knight Siegfried was busy at the bark, While the Lord of Rhineland the game against you won; Thus," said King Gunther's liegeman, "he knows not what was done."

Lx.x.xVIII

"Well pleas'd am I," said Siegfried, "that one so proud and bold At length has found a master in one of mortal mold, And has been taught submission by this good lord of mine.

Now must you, n.o.ble maiden, hence follow us to the Rhine."

Lx.x.xIX

Thereto replied the damsel, "It cannot yet be so; First must my men and kinsmen th' intended journey know; To bring my friends together, besides, 't were surely fit.

T' were wrong, methinks, so lightly my lands and all to quit."

XC

So messengers in hurry through all the country went; To liegemen, and to kinsmen, and all her friends she sent.

To Isenstein she begg'd them to come without delay.

And bade give all in plenty rich gifts and garments gay.