Page:The Nibelungenlied - tr. Shumway - 1909.pdf/126

68 Full ready for this he found the heroes brave and good. Well thirty hundred men were come eftsoon, from whom he chose a thousand of the best. Men brought them their helmets and other arms, for he would lead them to Brunhild’s land. He spake: “Ye good knights, this will I tell you, ye must wear full costly garments there at court, for many lovely dames shall gaze upon us. Therefore must ye deck yourselves with goodly weeds.”

Early on a morn they started on their way. What a speedy journey Siegfried won! They took with them good steeds and lordly harness, and thus they came in knightly wise to Brunhild’s land. The fair maids stood upon the battlements. Then spake the queen: “Knoweth any, who they be whom I see sailing yonder far out upon the sea? They have rich sails e’en whiter than the snow.”

Quoth the king of the Rhineland: “They’re men of mine, the which I left hard by here on the way. I had them sent for, and now they be come, my lady.” All eyes were fixed upon the lordly strangers.

Then one spied Siegfried standing at his vessel’s prow in lordly weeds and many other men. The queen spake: “Sir King, pray tell me, shall I receive the strangers or shall I deny them greetings?”

He spake: “Ye must go to meet them out before the palace, that they may well perceive how fain we be to see them here.”

Then the queen did as the king advised her. She marked out Siegfried with her greetings from the rest. Men purveyed them lodgings and took in charge their trappings. So many strangers were now come to the