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Rh a costly band upon which lay jewels green as grass. It shone and gleamed against the gold. He must needs be passing bold, to whom the maid would show her love. The shield the maid should bear was three spans thick beneath the studs, as we are told. Rich enow it was, of steel and eke of gold, the which four chamberlains could scarcely carry.

When the stalwart Hagen saw the shield borne forth, the knight of Troneg spake full grim of mood: “How now, King Gunther? How we shall lose our lives! She you would make your love is the devil’s bride, in truth.”

Hear now about her weeds; enow of these she had; she wore a surcoat of silk of Azagoue, noble and costly. Many a lordly stone shone in contrast to its color on the person of the queen.

Then was brought forth for the lady a spear, sharp, heavy, and large, the which she cast all time, stout and unwieldy, mickle and broad, which on its edges cut most fearfully. Of the spear’s great weight hear wonders told. Three and one half weights of iron were wrought therein, the which scarce three of Brunhild’s men could bear. The noble Gunther gan be sore afraid. Within his heart he thought: “What doth this mean? How could the devil from hell himself escape alive? Were I safe and sound in Burgundy, long might she live here free of any love of mine.”

Then spake Hagen’s brother, the valiant Dankwart: “The journey to this court doth rue me sore. We who have ever borne the name of knights, how must we lose our lives! Shall we now perish at the hands of women in these lands? It doth irk me much, that ever