Made answer that high-born Lady: "Not yet may this thing be, Ere I have summoned my kinsmen and them of my vassalry. It is all unmeet that so lightly I depart from this my land: Ere then must my nearest and dearest be bidden from every hand." Through the length and the breadth of her kingdom she made her messengers ride; And all her friends and her vassals she gathered from every side. {P. 65} Wherefore in swift obedience unto Isenstein came they; And to each and to all of them gave she most royal-rich array. Yea, day after day came riding from far, came early and late, The best of the folk of Brunhild in throngs to her fortress-gate. "Beshrew our folly," cried Hagen, "in consenting to this thing! To our own undoing await we Queen Brunhild's following. If these with all their war-might throng into this land thus-- Queen Brunhild's secret purpose is all unknown unto us,-- What if she be wroth against us? Then were our plight forlorn: So were the noble maiden for our utter discomfiture born!" Then answered Siegfried the mighty: "This will I countervail. So will I deal, that the purpose that disquieteth you shall fail. Them that shall help I will bring you hitherward unto this shore, Even chosen knights, such a war-host as ye have not seen heretofore. Ye shall ask not concerning mine absence: I will journey away from this place. God have your honour in keeping, and guard it safe for a space! Soon shall ye see me returning: a thousand men will I bring, And these the mightiest war-thanes that ever followed king." "Only not long do thou linger," the King made answer again, "Forasmuch as we of thine helping be most exceeding fain." He said, "Ere ye see me returning of a truth shall the days be few: And this shall ye tell Queen Brunhild, that hence I was sent of you." VIII. How Siegfried went to the Niblung Land for his Knights So thence to the strand and the haven Siegfried hied him away In the Hood of Darkness shrouded. Now a boat by the wharf-side lay, And thereinto from men's eyes hidden stepped Siegfried Siegmund's son, And he thrust it forth o'er the waters, as it were by a wind driven on. {P. 66} Now no one beheld that steersman, though swift was the barge's flight Sped on by the strength of Siegfried, so passing-great was his might. Who marked it, deemed that it drifted before a strange strong wind: None dreamed it was driven of Siegfried the child of Siegelind. In the space of that day and the night-tide that followed was he brought To a certain land, by the mighty strength wherewithal he wrought. It was leagues full three-and-thirty, yea, more peradventure, away. This was the Land of the Niblungs, where he won the Hoard for a prey. Alone stepped forth the hero on to an eyot wide; And he fastened, that knight resourceful, the boat to the river-side. Then he passed unto where a castle stood on a craggy bent, And therein sought harbourage, even as a wayfarer toil-forspent.