LIX

"Receive then this young hero with all becoming state; 'Twere ill advis'd to merit so fierce a champion's hate.

So lovely is his presence, at once all hearts are won, And then his strength and courage such wondrous deeds have done."

LX

Then spake the mighty monarch, "Thou counsellest aright.

See how stands full knightly, prepar'd for fiercest fight, He and his hardy comrades, the death-defying man!

Straight we'll descend to meet him as courteous as we can."

LXI

"That be a.s.sur'd," said Hagan, "with honor may be done; Of lofty kin is Siegfried, a mighty monarch's son.

Me seemeth, if to purpose his bearing I have eyed, By heaven, 'tis no light matter hath bidd'n him thither ride."

LXII

Then spake the country's ruler, "He shall be welcome here, Bold is the knight and n.o.ble, that I discover clear, And much shall it avail him on our Burgundian ground."

Then thither went King Gunther where he Siegfried found.

LXIII

The host and his companions so well receiv'd the guest, That nothing there was wanting that courtesy express'd; And low inclin'd the warrior to all in presence there, Since they had giv'n him greeting so friendly and so fair.

LXIV

"I wonder much," said Gunther, "and fain would understand, Whence comes the n.o.ble Siegfried to this Burgundian land, And what he here is seeking at Worms upon the Rhine."

The guest to the king made answer, "Concealment is no art of mine.

LXV

"Afar I heard the tidings, e'en in my father's land, That here with you were dwelling (fain would I know the band) The best and prowest champions so voic'd by all and some, That ever king surrounded; I'm therefore hither come.

LXVI

"Your own renown I've heard, too, through all this country ring, That never eye of mortal has seen so bold a king.

Your prowess and your knighthood are vouch'd by high and low, Now ne'er will I turn homeward till this by proof I know.

LXVII

"I too am a warrior, and shall a sceptre sway, And I would fain bring all men perforce of me to say, That I both land and liegemen have n.o.bly merited.

This to maintain I'll freely pledge, my honor and my head.

LXVIII

"Now since you are so famous for manhood and for skill, Naught reck I, if my purpose be taken well or ill, But all that's own'd by Gunther I'll win by strength of hand, And force to my obedience his castles and his land."

LXIX

The king was lost in wonder, and with him all the rest, At such a strange pretension from that o'erweening guest, Who claim'd his whole possessions that stretch'd so wide around.

His va.s.sals heard the challenge, and for anger sternly frown'd.

LXX

"How," cried the valiant Gunther, "have I deserv'd this wrong, That what my n.o.ble father with honor rul'd so long, I now should yield to any, o'ermaster'd by his might?

Ill should I show, that I too can bear me like a knight!"

LXXI

"I'll ne'er renounce my purpose," the fiery youth replied; "If through thy might thy country cannot in peace abide, I'll take on me to rule it, and what I hold in fee, If thou by strength canst take it, shall alike submit to thee.

LXXII

"Let thy broad lands and mine too be laid in equal scale, And whichsoe'er in battle o'er th' other shall prevail, To him let all be subject, the liegemen and the land."

But Hagan sought, and Gernot, such purpose to withstand.

LXXIII

"To us 'tis little pleasing," Gernot made reply, "That we should lands be seizing, whose lords should slaughter'd lie That we may win unjustly; our lands are fair and wide; We are their rightful masters, and none they need beside."

LXXIV

Grim glar'd King Gunther's warriors (of gathering wrath the sign!) Among them lower'd the darkest the knight of Metz, Ortwine.

"It irks me much," exclaim'd he, "to hear these words of pride.

Sir King! by haughty Siegfried thou'rt wrongfully defied.

LXXV

"Were thou and thy brave brethren stript of those arms you boast, While he to back his quarrel should bring a royal host, E'en then I'd trust to teach him a humbler pitch to fly, And cower as low before us, as now he mounteth high."

LXXVI