welcome. The second of the company hath so lofty a mien that, if his
power be equal thereto, he might well be a great king and a ruler of wide
lands, for he standeth right proudly before the others. The third, O
Queen, is grim, yet a goodly man withal. His glance is swift and dark;
he is fierce-tempered, I ween. The youngest pleaseth me well. Maidenly
and modest he standeth, yet it went hard, methinketh, with any that
fashioned daintily, if his wrath were once kindled, many a woman might
weep, for he is a bold and virtuous knight, and right worshipful."

The queen said, "Bring me my robe. If stark Siegfried be come into my
land to woo me, he shall pay for it with his life. I fear him not so
greatly that I should yield me to be his wife."

Then Brunhild attired her in haste. An hundred or more of her damsels
went with her, richly adorned, whom the guests beheld gladly. Brunhild's
knights of Issland gave them escort, to the number of five hundred or
thereabout, their swords in their hands, the which irked the bold
strangers. They stood up from their seats; and the queen spake
courteously to them when she saw Siegfried. "Thou art welcome,
Siegfried, to this land. To what end art thou come? I prithee tell me."

"I thank thee, O Brunhild, fair daughter of a king, that thou greetest me
before this worshipful knight. Thou showest Siegfried too much honour,
for he is my lord, and the king of the Rhineland. What boots it to say
more? For thy sake we are come hither, for he would woo thee at all
hazards. Weigh the matter betimes, for of a surety he will win thee.
His name is Gunther; he is a great and mighty king, and he desireth
naught save thy love. To this end I have followed him, nor had done it,
but that he is my master."