Page:The lay of the Nibelungs; (IA nibelungslay00hortrich).pdf/136

58

By solemn oath they swore it, the noble warriors twain.

But they had toilsome labour, and grief enough, and pain,

Before the high-born lady home to the Rhine they brought.

The gallant knights’ achievement must be with sorrow wrought.

Siegfried his hood of darkness, Tarnhelm yclept, must take:

The same that the bold hero, after hard fight, did make

His own, from a dwarf wrested, whose name was Alberich.

The bold and mighty warriors sped on their journey quick.

Whene’er the gallant Sicgfricd the wondrous Tarnhelm wore,

A hidden strength was in him he had not known before

He had the strength of twelve men, joined to his own, ’twas said;

And cunningly he plotted to win the noble maid.

Now this same hood was fashion’d in such a wondrous way

That any man who wore it could carry out straightway

Whatever thing he wanted, whilst no man could him see.

Therewith he won Brunhilda; whence mickle woe had he.

“Now answer me,” thane Siegfried, “ere yet our way begin,

How shall we, with due honour, across the water win?

Should we not take our warriors unto Brunhilda’s land?—

Full thirty thousand have I, who soon may be to hand.”

“How many folk soever we take there,” Siegfried said,

“This queen doth cherish customs so terrible and dread,

That they will all fall victims to her o’erweening mood.

I’ll give thee better counsel, thou fearless knight and good.