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Now, when the royal Gunther so many towers did see,

And eke so wide a marchland, he spake, all suddenly:

“Tell me, my good friend Siegfried, if it be known to thee,

Whose are these many castles, and this fair land we see?”

Then answered Siegfried: “Truly it is to me well known:

This people and this country doth Queen Brunhilda own,

And Isenstein’s her fortress, as you have heard me say;—

And many comely women you well might see this day.

“I’ll give ye heroes counsel all of one mind to be,—

Agree in all your discourse,— so seemeth best to me,

If we to-day, as may be, before Brunhilda go,

We shall need all our prudence to deal with her, I trow.

“When we behold that fair one, attended by her train,

One speech, and but one only, ye heroes must maintain:

King Gunther is my chieftain, and of his men I’m one;

Thereby what he hath purposed shall all be duly done.”

They ready were to promise whate’er he asked of them;

With all their pride o’erweening none did his word contemn.

They vowed whate’er he wanted: so better did they fare,

What time the royal Gunther beheld Brunhilda fair.

“This not so much for thy sake, I do,” Sir Siegfried said,

“As for love of thy sister,— the ever-beauteous maid!

She’s as my soul unto me, and as my very life;

I’ll gladly do this service, so her I win to wife!”