Page:The lay of the Nibelungs; (IA nibelungslay00hortrich).pdf/159

VII.

“How can it e’er have happened,” thereon inquired the queen,

“That you, most noble Siegfried, naught of the game have seen,

Wherein I have been worsted by mighty Gunther’s hand?”

Then answered her Sir Hagen of the Burgundian land.

He spake: “Yourself, O lady, did much disturb our mood;

So to the ship departed Siegfried, the hero good,

What time our lord of Rhineland did win the game from you:

Therefore he knows naught of it,” said Gunther's liegeman true.

“Now welcome are these tidings,” quoth warrior Siegfried,

“That thus your pride hath fallen doth please me well, indeed,

That some one there is living who may your master be!

Now must you, noble maiden, go with us o’er the sea.”

Then spake the noble fair one: “This may not yet befall:

My kinsmen first must hear it, and my good liegemen all;

I may not thus so lightly desert my land, I trow;

My chief friends must be sent there, ere I myself shall go.”

Then sent she heralds riding here, there and everywhere,

To bid her friends and kinsmen, and lieges all repair

To Isenstein the fortress, nor would she take excuse;

And bade that costly raiment be given for their use.

So daily came they riding, from early hours till late

Unto Brunhilda’s castle, like to an army great.

“Now, by my faith!” cried Hagen, “see now what we have done!

With fair Brunhilda’s liegemen we’ll trouble have anon.