XCI

Daily to Brunhild's castle early they rode and late, In troops from all sides flocking, and all in martial state.

"Ay! ay!" said frowning Hagan, "ill have we done, I fear; Surely 't will be our ruin to wait this gathering here.

XCII

"Let her strength be only here together brought (And of the queen's intentions we little know or naught), If so her pa.s.sion wills it, we're lost at once, I trow.

In sooth this dainty damsel was born to work us woe."

XCIII

Then spoke the valiant Siegfried, "I'll undertake for all; Trust me, what now you look for, that shall ne'er befall.

Safe and sound to keep you, I'll hither bring a crew Of fierce, selected champions, of whom ye never knew.

XCIV

"Inquire not of my journey; I hence must instant fare; The little while I'm absent G.o.d have you in his care.

Again here will I quickly with a thousand men be found, The bravest and the boldest that ever moved on ground,"

XCV

"Be sure then not to linger," the anxious Gunther said, "For we meanwhile shall ever be longing for your aid."

"In a few days you'll see me at hand for your defence, And tell," said he, "fair Brunhild, that you have sent me hence."

EIGHTH ADVENTURE

HOW SIEGFRIED CAME TO THE NIBELUNGERS.

I

Thence in his cloud-cloak Siegfried descended to the strand; There he found a shallop, that close lay to the land; Unseen the bark he boarded, that from the harbor pa.s.s'd Moved by the son of Siegmund, as though before the blast.

II

The steersman could see no man; yet the vessel flew Beneath the strokes of Siegfried the yielding water through.

'T was a tempest thought they, that drove it furious on.

No! 't was the strength of Siegfried, fair Sieglind's peerless son.

III

All that day they were running, and all the night the same, Then to a famous country of mighty power they came, Days' journey full a hundred stretching far away, The Nibelungers' country, where his hard-won treasure lay.

IV

Alone the champion landed in a meadow wide; Straight to the sh.o.r.e securely the little bark he tied, And then went to a castle seated upon a hill, To ask for food and shelter as weary travellers will.

V

All found he barr'd and bolted as near the walls he drew; Men both life and honor kept then as now they do.

The stranger all impatient began a thundering din At the well fasten'd portal. There found he close within

VI

A huge earth-shaking giant, the castle set to guard, Who with his weapons by him kept ever watch and ward.

"Who beats the gate so stoutly?" the yawning monster ask'd; His voice, as he gave answer, the crafty hero mask'd,

VII

And said, "I am a warrior; open me the gate; I'm wroth with lazy losels who make their betters wait, While they on down are snoring as if they'd never wake."

It irk'd the burly porter that thus the stranger spake.

VIII

Now had the fearless giant all his weapons donn'd, Bound on his head his helmet, and in his monstrous hond A shield unmeasur'd taken; open the gate he threw, And his teeth grimly gnashing at Siegfried fiercely flew.

IX

"How could he dare to call up men of mettle so?"

With that he let fly at him many a wind-swift blow, That the n.o.ble stranger put back with wary fence.

At last upheav'd the giant an iron bar immense,

X

And his firm shield-band shatter'd; scarce could the warrior stand, He fear'd, though for a moment, grim death was close at hand, With his enormous weapon the porter smote so sore, Yet for his dauntless bearing he lov'd him all the more.

XI

With the mighty conflict the castle rung around; To th' hall of the Nibelungers reach'd the stunning sound.

At length the vanquish'd porter he bound with conquering hand.

Far and wide flew the tidings through the Nibelungers' land.