Thought he "'Twere sure a pity so fair a maid to slay;" So he revers'd the jav'lin, and turn'd the point away; Yet, with the butt-end foremost, so forceful was the throw, That the sore-smitten damsel totter'd to and fro. LXXIV From her mail fire sparkled as driven before the blast; With such huge strength the jav'lin by Sieglind's son was cast, That 'gainst the furious impulse she could no longer stand. A stroke so sturdy never could come from Gunther's hand. LXXV Up in a trice she started, and straight her silence broke, "Noble knight, Sir Gunther, thank thee for the stroke." She thought 'twas Gunther's manhood had laid her on the lea; No! 'twas not he had fell'd her, but a mightier far than he. LXXVI Then turn'd aside the maiden; angry was her mood; On high the stone she lifted rugged and round and rude, And brandish'd it with fury, and far before her flung, Then bounded quick behind it, that loud her armor rung. LXXVII Twelve fathoms' length or better the mighty mass was thrown, But the maiden bounded further than the stone. To where the stone was lying Siegfried fleetly flew; Gunther did but lift it, th' Unseen it was, who threw. LXXVIII Bold, tall and strong was Siegfried, the first all knights among; He threw the stone far further, behind it further sprung. His wondrous arts had made him so more than mortal strong, That with him as he bounded, he bore the king along. LXXIX The leap was seen of all men, there lay as plain the stone, But seen was no one near it, save Gunther all alone. Brunhild was red with anger, quick came her panting breath Siegfried had rescued Gunther that day from certain death. LXXX Then all aloud fair Brunhild bespake her courtier band, Seeing in the ring at distance unharm'd her wooer stand, "Hither, my men and kinsmen: low to my better bow; I am no more your mistress; you're Gunther's liegemen now." LXXXI Down cast the noble warriors their weapons hastily, And lowly kneel'd to Gunther the King of Burgundy. To him as to their sovran was kingly homage done, Whose manhood, as they fancied, the mighty match had won. LXXXII He fair the chiefs saluted bending with gracious look; Then by the hand the maiden her conquering suitor took, And granted him to govern the land with sovran sway; Whereat the warlike nobles were joyous all and gay. LXXXIII Forthwith the noble Gunther she begg'd with her to go Into her royal palace; soon as 'twas ordered so, To his knights her servants such friendly court 'gan make, That Hagan e'en and Dankwart could it but kindly take. LXXXIV Wise was the nimble Siegfried; he left them there a space, And slily took the cloud-cloak back to its hiding-place, Return'd then in an instant, where sat the ladies fair, And straight, his fraud to cover, bespoke King Gunther there.