[5] The differences in the names in the two stories are mainly due to the fact that in the Volsunga-saga they assume a Norse form, in the _Nibelungenlied_ a German one. Thus, _Sigurd_ becomes _Siegfried_; _Gunnar_ becomes _Gunther_; _Hogni_, Gunnar's brother, becomes _Hagen_, Gunther's uncle; _Gudrun_, as a character, becomes _Kriemhild_, whose name, however, is taken from _Grimhild_, a very different personage from the kindly and pious mother of Kriemhild. The Hun-king, _Atli_, becomes _Etzel_; _Andvari_, the dwarf who was robbed of the Hoard, appears as _Alberich_. [6] An example of such is the _Gehörnte Siegfried_ (Horn-skinned Siegfried), which did this in detail, and (in Carlyle's words) "under a rude prose dress, is to this day a real child's book and people's book among the Germans." [7] Siegfried's reason, which critics and translators, from Carlyle downward, have left unexplained, seems to be this:--Siegfried was already known to Brunhild, and was the mightiest man she knew. Hence, if she saw him acting as a mere vassal to Gunther, she would infer that the latter was yet mightier, an impression to be confirmed by his apparent victory in the test; and so her reluctance to abide by the result, which, had she resisted, would have proved insuperable, would be more likely to be overcome. [8] One rider dashing at full speed past another, would snatch his cloak from his shoulders: the latter then gave chase to recover his property. Opportunity for display of fine horsemanship, and much amusement to the spectators, were thus afforded. [9] The scene which follows will be more intelligible if we understand that it took place in the Reception-hall or Presence-hall, through which Brunhild passes with her train while the king is waiting there for his sister. [10] For the six lines which follow, Simrock's reading is adopted. [11] For this and the next line Simrock's text is followed. [12] Because Hildebrand had been Dietrich's foster-father. [13] Simrock's arrangement is adopted in the last two strophes. [End of Footnotes] TRANSCRIBER'S NOTES Alterations to the text: A few puctuation corrections. Change two instances (p. 83 & 155) of _Dankrat_ to _Dankart_. [P. 240] Change "Alone across the _baily_..." to _bailey_. Note: the inconsistent spelling of Albrich/Alberich has been left as-is. [End of Book] End of Project Gutenberg's The Lay of the Nibelung Men, by Anonymous