So he came before that burg-gate: fast locked and barred did it stand; For jealous aye for their honour were the warders of that land. On the massy door 'neath the gate-tower did the unknown one begin Straightway to beat, and his smiting roused up therewithin A mighty one and a giant, that there kept watch and ward, And night and day beside him his armour lay and his sword: And he spake: "Who knocketh so roughly on the burg-gate therewithout?" In a feigned voice Siegfried the valiant sent back the answering shout: "Up! I am a knight belated. Knave, open to me forthright, Else I with strokes heavy-handed shall gall a laggard wight Who loveth to keep his chamber and lie in the sluggard's bed!" Then exceeding wroth was the warder for the word that Siegfried said. His armour hath that fierce giant in haste on his huge limbs done, And his helmet hath he settled on his head, that mighty one. In haste hath he snatched his buckler and the castle gate swung wide: In a fury of rage against Siegfried forth did he swiftly stride. "How dar'st thou wake," he shouted, "all these of our gallant band?" Then fell fast-raining buffets, dealt by his mighty hand: From the shield of the noble stranger glanced fierce blows many and rude, Yet the steel shards flew from his shield-rim as the giant warder hewed {P. 67} With a massy mace of iron, that the thane was hard-bestead. Well-nigh began the hero the very death to dread At the smiting of that huge porter, as the lightning vehement. Yet was his liege-lord Siegfried with his faithfulness well content. So furious was their battling, the keep rang echoing round, And afar in the hall of King Niblung was heard the tempest-sound: Yet at last he o'ermastered the warder, and bound him foot and hand. --Ere long men laughed at the story through all the Niblung land.