Page:The lay of the Nibelungs; (IA nibelungslay00hortrich).pdf/137

VI.]

“Let us, as plain knights-errant, go sailing down the Rhine.

And I will name unto thee the knights we’ll take of thine.

Besides us two, two others shall go, none else at all:

So shall we win the lady, whatever may befall.

“I one of these four comrades, another shall be thou;

The third had best be Hagen, we should do well enow.

And tet the fourth be Dankwart, he hath a dauntless hand;

A thousand others dare not in fight us four withstand.”

I would I had some knowledge,’ the king said,—“verily,

Ere we from hither journey, ’twould much enhearten me,—

In what apparel should we before Brunhild appear;

What would be right and fitting? that, Siegfried, would I hear.”

“Whatever be most handsome is worn, I understand,

By ev’ry man, at all times, in Queen Brunhilda’s land;

Therefore should we go finely before this haughty dame,—

That when men talk about us we need not blush for shame.”

Then cried the good king, “Surely, I will myself go ask

My own dear, gracious mother, that she do set the task

To her fair maids, to make us such garb, wherein array’d

We may appear with honour before the royal maid.”

Then Hagen, knight of Tronjé, in courtly fashion spake:

“Why trouble you your mother with things to undertake?

Let your fair sister hear now all that you have in mind.

Her aid, in this state journey, you will of service find.”