Page:The Nibelungenlied - tr. Shumway - 1909.pdf/190

132 Bold Siegfried from Netherland then answered: “Ye can well test that, and ye will run a race with me to the spring. When that is done, we call give the prize to him who winneth.”

“So let us try it then,” quoth Hagen, the knight.

Spake the sturdy Siegfried: “Then will I lay me down on the green sward at your feet.”

How lief it was to Gunther, when he heard these words! Then the bold knight spake again: “I’ll tell you more. I’ll take with me all my trappings, my spear and shield and all my hunting garb.” Around him he quickly girded his quiver and his sword.

Then they drew the clothes from off their limbs; men saw them stand in two white shifts. Like two wild panthers through the clover they ran, but men spied bold Siegfried first at the spring. In all things he bare away the prize from many a man. Quickly he ungirt his sword and laid aside his quiver and leaned the stout spear against a linden bough. The lordly stranger stood now by the flowing spring. Passing great was Siegfried’s courtesie. He laid down his shield where the spring gushed forth, but the hero drank not, albeit he thirsted sore until the king had drunk, who gave him evil thanks. Cool, clear, and good was the spring. Gunther stooped down then to the flowing stream, and when he had drunken straightened up again. Bold Siegfried would fain also have done the same, but now he paid for his courtesie. Hagen bare quite away from him both bow and sword and bounded then to where he found the spear; then he looked for the mark on bold Siegfried’s coat. As Lord Siegfried drank above the spring, he pierced him through the