Still as they voyaged, joyance made music through all the way: With manifold merry pastime they whiled the hours away. {P. 72} They were wafted on to the outsea by a breeze that followed fast; And so with mirth and laughter from land unto land they passed. Yet not upon that voyage would she be King Gunther's bride; But his bliss awhile must tarry until the bridal-tide In the Castle of Worms, at the stately marriage-festival, When with joy they should come with their heroes unto Gunther's royal hall. IX. How Siegfried bare Tidings to the Royal City Now when they had so sailed onward for nine days over the sea, Then out spake Hagen of Troneg: "I pray you, hearken to me: Lo, here we tarry from sending the tidings to Worms on Rhine; Yet by this in the land Burgundian should they be, those heralds of thine." Made answer to him King Gunther: "Of a truth good counsel is this; And to send as our tidings-bearer were none so meet, I wis, As thou thyself, friend Hagen; thou unto my land ride on. Our royal journey may no man better than thou make known." "Now nay, Lord King, of heralds nowise the best should I be. Let me as thy treasure-warder tarry still on the sea: Here will I bide with the women, and guard their costly array Till unto the land Burgundian we have brought them on their way. Not so; pray rather Siegfried to bear this message for thee: Well can he do thine errand with wisdom and courtesy. If he haply be loth for the journey, in kingly-courteous wise Entreat him in kindly fashion by the love in thy sister's eyes." Then unto the knight sent Gunther, and he came before the King; And he said to him: "Nigh are we gotten to my land in our journeying; And now to my dear-loved sister would I send a messenger, And withal to my mother, to tell them who to the land draw near. {P. 73} So then, Lord Siegfried, I pray thee that thou wouldst bear this word, And so will I aye be beholden to thee," said the Rhineland's lord. Yet loth was Siegfried the valiant, and fain would have said him nay, Until the King besought him, and thus did Gunther pray: He said unto him: "For my love's sake thitherward shouldst thou ride, And withal for the sake of Kriemhild, the maiden lovely-eyed, To the end that the royal maiden with me may requite thy pain." When heard was her name of Siegfried, the knight was exceeding fain. "Lay on me what charge thou pleasest," he answered, "all shall be done: With joy shall it be accomplished for the sake of that lovely one Whom I bear in my heart enshrinèd!--who am I, to deny or defer? Even all that thou requirest will I perform for her."