Not long thereafter the plotters brought to pass their intent That Kriemhild the Daughter of Princes for the Hoard of the Treasure sent To the land of the Niblungs: to Rhineland she caused them to bring the same. 'Twas her morning-gift, nor its warders might hold it against her claim. So Giselher and Gernot to bring that Hoard must wend; And armed men eighty hundred did the Lady Kriemhild send To bring that hidden treasure from the caverns wherein it lay, And Alberich the Dwarf-knight and his stout friends warded it aye. When they saw these men from the Rhineland which had come for the Treasure's sake, Then Alberich the valiant to his mighty kinsmen spake: "We may nowise refuse this treasure, to yield it to her desire; 'Tis her Gift of the Marriage-morning, and the Queen doth her own require. Howbeit," said Alberich, "never had this befallen thus, Except by chance most evil this too had been lost unto us, The potent Hood of Darkness, which vanished when Siegfried died, Which the lord of Kriemhild the lovely had ever by his side. In an evil hour for Siegfried did the Hero win that prey, And pluck the Hood of Darkness from the hands of its keepers away, And therewithal the lordship of all this land did he seize." Then the seneschal went to the chambers where lay that cavern's keys. There stood those sent of Kriemhild in front of the mountain's door, And divers withal of her kinsmen. So all that treasure-store Brought they down to the sea-flood, and the ships therewith were fraught. So over the rolling waters and on to the Rhine was it brought. Now of the Hoard of the Niblungs shall ye hear the marvel told: Twelve wains to the utmost laden down from that mountain-hold Must bear that treasure seaward: four days and nights toiled they, Each going and each returning three times each several day. Therein was there nothing meaner than precious stones and gold, And if one therewith had purchased all wealth that the world could hold, {P. 153} "By not one mark is it minished!" whoso had seen it had said. Not without cause that treasure was of Hagen coveted! In its midst was the Wishing-rod lying, a little golden wand. Whoso divined its virtue could stretch his sovereign hand Over all the wide earth's compass and all the folk therein. Back to the Rhine with Gernot went many of Albrich's kin.