Now when that Daughter of Princes looked upon Siegfried's face-- Would ye know of her greeting?--she bespake him with cold and stately grace: "Now welcome be thou, O Siegfried, in thy coming to this my land. What meaneth this your journey?--prithee, cause me to understand." "Exceeding thank do I render, O Daughter of Princes, to thee, That thou deignest to greet me, Brunhild, Lady of Courtesy, Before this knight hath been greeted, who standeth before me in place, For that he is my liege-lord:--Siegfried could well have foregone such grace! He is the King of Rhineland--what need I say of him more? All for thy love have we voyaged far overseas to thy shore. Fixed is his heart to woo thee, whatsoever thereof betide. While yet there is time, bethink thee:--my lord turns never aside. He hath to name King Gunther; wide is his royal domain. For thy love he comes hitherward wooing; nought else he desireth to gain. Forasmuch as he hath commanded, on this journey have I too come. If so be he were not my liege-lord, sooth, I had forborne therefrom." She answered: "If thou be his vassal, and he thy suzerain, Then must he abide the trial, the tests that I ever ordain. If he stand at the end the victor, I yield myself his wife; But if I overcome--bethink you, ye all have staked your life." Then out spake Hagen of Troneg: "Suffer us, Queen, to see To what manner of play thou dost challenge. Ere Gunther my lord unto thee Shall yield up the mastery, surely he shall strive with bitter strain. A maiden so passing lovely full well to his wife might he gain." {P. 58} "He shall cast the massy quoit-stone, and far as it flies shall he leap, And shall hurl against me the javelin--hold not this trial cheap! Ye may lose not honour only: your life and limb be at stake. Therefore, I rede you, bethink you!" So that fair woman spake. Then Siegfried the battle-helper drew the King apart, And he prayed him to speak out boldly all that was in his heart Unto the Queen replying--"Fear not for the end," he said; "By my cunning devices against her full well will I shield thine head." Then answered and spake King Gunther: "O child of a royal line, Lay on me what task thou pleasest: were it harder than this of thine, Yet for the sake of thy beauty I abide all willingly. If thou be not won by my wooing, then smite mine head from me."