For behold, these twain were captive taken by Siegfried's hand. Never so many war-thralls have come into this our land As now his valour haleth hitherward unto the Rhine." --More welcome words had she hearkened never, ye well may divine-- "Five hundred barons unwounded, nay more, be hitherward led, O Queen, and of men sore stricken in fight, yea, well-nigh dead, Full fourscore blood-stained litters come softly through the land; And of these were the more part smitten by dauntless Siegfried's hand. They whose pride overweening challenged the Lords of Rhine to the war Now captives of King Gunther by sore constraint they are. With joy to thy land that goodly prey do our warriors hale." Then flushed into rose the lily at the telling of that tale. Yea, over her lovely visage for rapture the roses burned That out of the imminent peril alive and whole had returned {P. 33} Her knight, her winsome Siegfried, of the young, heart-conquering eyes-- Yea, she rejoiced for her kinsfolk withal in sisterly wise. Then spake that Queen of Beauty: "Glad tidings to me hast thou brought. I will give thee for thy guerdon bright raiment richly wrought; And my treasurer shall count thee withal ten marks of gold." He is happy of whom such tidings unto noble dames be told! They gave him for his guerdon the gold and the costly array. Many a lovely maiden from her casement leaned that day, And gazed o'er the city highway, and saw go riding by Many a thane high-hearted of the land of Burgundy. First rode the knights unwounded, then the train of the stricken came,-- Well might these hearken the greeting of friends with nought of shame! And the King rode forth glad-hearted to meet them, kinsman and guest: From all his care in rejoicing his soul had gotten rest. Then greeted he well his kinsfolk, and hailed each stranger knight, As for kings of men so mighty is ever meet and right With thanks and with lovingkindness to meet men faring back From plucking the flower of glory from the field of the battle-wrack. Now touching his friends and his kinsmen King Gunther questioneth, Even who in the highways of battle had been stricken unto death: And behold, in heroes fourscore the tale of their slain is told!-- But the brave dead none bewaileth, and so hath it been from of old. Yea, even the knights unwounded brought many a sword-hacked shield, And many a rifted helmet, home from that stricken field. And the riders sprang from their horses at the gates of the hall of the King; And with shouts of salutation did the very heavens ring.