How Gunther Won Brunhild, LXXI–XCV

Right through the groaning buckler the spear tempestuous broke; Fire from the mail-links sparkled beneath the thund'ring stroke. Those two mighty champions stagger'd from side to side; But for the wondrous cloud-cloak both on the spot had died.

From the mouth of Siegfried burst the gushing blood; Soon he again sprung forward; straight snatch'd the hero good The spear that through his buckler she just had hurl'd amain, And sent it at its mistress in thunder back again.

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 butt-end foremost, so forceful was the throw, That the sore-smitten damsel totter'd to and fro.

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 sturdy never could come from Gunther's hand.

Up in a trice she started, and straight her silence broke, "Noble 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.

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.

Twelve fathoms' length or better the mighty mass 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.

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.

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.

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."

Down cast the noble 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.

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 nobles were joyous all and gay.

Forthwith the noble 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.

Wise was the nimble Siegfried; he left them there a space, 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.

"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.

"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;

"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."

"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, noble maiden, hence follow us to the Rhine."

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."

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.

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.

"Let her strength be only here together brought (And of the queen's intentions we little know or naught), If so her passion wills it, we're lost at once, I trow. In sooth this dainty damsel was born to work us woe."

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.

"Inquire not of my journey; I hence must instant fare; The little while I'm absent God 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,"

"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."