Page:The lay of the Nibelungs; (IA nibelungslay00hortrich).pdf/44

xl victorious, he gains her hand; if vanquished, he loses his own head; which latter issue, such is the fair Amazon’s strength, frequent fatal experiment has shown to be the only probable one.

Siegfried, who knows something of Brunhild and her ways, votes clearly against the whole enterprise; however, Gunther has once for all got the whim in him, and must see it out. The prudent Hagen von Troneg, uncle to love-sick Gunther, and ever true to him, then advises that Siegfried be requested to take part in the adventure; to which request Siegfried readily accedes on one condition: that, should they prove fortunate, he himself is to have Chriemhild to wife when they return. This readily settled, he now takes charge of the business, and throws a little light on it for the others. They must lead no army thither; only two, Hagen and Dankwart, besides the king and himself, shall go. The grand subject of waete (clothes) is next hinted at, and in general terms elucidated; whereupon a solemn consultation with Chriemhild ensues; and a great cutting-out, on her part, of white silk from Araby, of green silk from Zazemang, of strange fishskins covered with morocco silk; a great sewing thereof for seven weeks, on the part of her maids; lastly, a fitting-on of the three suits by each hero, for each had three; and heartiest thanks in return, seeing all fitted perfectly, and was of grace and price unutterable. What is still more to the point, Siegfried takes his Cloak of Darkness with him, fancying he may need it there. The good old Singer, who has hitherto alluded only in the faintest way to Siegfried’s prior adventures and miraculous possessions, introduces this of the Tarnkappe with great frankness and simplicity. “Of wild dwarfs (getwergen),” says he, “I have heard tell, they are in hollow mountains, and for defence wear somewhat called Tarnkappe, of wondrous sort;” the qualities of which garment, that it renders invisible, and gives twelve men’s strength, are already known to us.