Then Gunther's palace-marshals sped forth to meet the guest. They ran, the earls high-hearted; they hasted, henchman and knight, Toward these of the lordly presence, even as was meet and right; And they gave those guests fair greeting unto their liege-lord's land; And they grasped the good steed's bridle, and would take the shield from the hand. And they made as to lead the horses to the crib and the stall for their rest: Then stayed them the voice of Siegfried, that dauntless warrior-guest: "Let be the steeds; for a season still harnessed shall they stand, For yet am I girt for the journey, and I ride full soon from your land. Now if any man certainly knoweth, let him nowise hide the thing, For this would I have one tell me, where may I light on your King, Even Gunther the treasure-wealthy, Burgundia's mighty lord." Then one that thereof well wotted spake out the answering word: "If ye fain would behold that war-king, the wish may be lightly won. In the wide fair hall of his palace I marked him a little agone Begirt with his hero-vassals: thither to him go ye. There many a noble warrior beside him shall ye see." But by this within his palace had the tale to the King been told How there waited without by the gateway strange warriors aweless-bold All-armed in sunbright hauberks and in royal-rich array, Whose names and whose kindred no man in Burgundy might say. {P. 12} Thereat was the King astonied, and he marvelled whence they came, These lordly knights from whose raiment so shone the splendour-flame, These wielders of goodly bucklers, broad shields and stainless-fair: Yea, it misliked him that no man could say what folk they were. Then to the King made answer Ortwein, Metz's lord-- Stalwart he was, and a dauntless wielder of spear and sword: "Forasmuch as in no wise we know them, bid one bring hither to thee Mine uncle, even Hagen: let him look on their company. Known unto him are kingdoms and strange lands far and wide. Of him, if he know yon chieftains, shall we surely be certified."