Page:The lay of the Nibelungs; (IA nibelungslay00hortrich).pdf/127

V.]

Upon her raiment glittered full many a precious stone:

Her rosy blushing colour with lovely radiance shone,

Though any would deny it he could not but confess,

That on this earth he never had seen more loveliness.

Just as the moon in brightness excels the brightest stars,

And, suddenly outshining, athwart the clouds appears;

So seemed she now, comparéd with dames of fairest guise.

Then did our gallant hero feel his bold spirits rise.

One saw before her marching the chamberlains, in state,—

But the high-mettled warriors their order would not wait:

They thronged to where, in passing, the fair maid they could see.

The while Sir Siegfried suffered both joy and misery,

Sadly he thought within him: “How can it ever be?

It is mere foolish dreaming that I should marry thee!

Yet to be still a stranger!— then were I better dead!”

And, thinking so, his colour did change ’twixt white and red.

There stood the son of Siegmund; as winsome did he look

As 1f his form were limnéd upon a parchment-book,

By hand of cunning master; and all men said of him,

That there was no man like him, so fine and fair of limb.

They who the maid attended now strove to clear the track,

And keep the throng from pressing; and many a knight drew back.

And manly hearts beat quicker for joy, in many a breast,

As passed each high-born lady in splendid raiment drest.