LXXXV "Why dally, gracious master? why not the games begin, Which by the queen, to prove you, have here appointed been? Come, let us see the contest, and mark each knightly stroke." As though he had seen nothing, the crafty warrior spoke. LXXXVI "Why how can this have happened," said the o'ermaster'd queen, "That, as it seems, Sir Siegfried, the games you have not seen, Which 'gainst me good King Gunther has gain'd with wondrous might?" The word then up took Hagan, the stern Burgundian knight; LXXXVII "Our minds indeed you troubled, our hopes o'er-clouded dark; Meanwhile the good Knight Siegfried was busy at the bark, While the Lord of Rhineland the game against you won; Thus," said King Gunther's liegeman, "he knows not what was done." LXXXVIII "Well pleas'd am I," said Siegfried, "that one so proud and bold At length has found a master in one of mortal mold, And has been taught submission by this good lord of mine. Now must you, noble maiden, hence follow us to the Rhine." LXXXIX Thereto replied the damsel, "It cannot yet be so; First must my men and kinsmen th' intended journey know; To bring my friends together, besides, 't were surely fit. T' were wrong, methinks, so lightly my lands and all to quit." XC So messengers in hurry through all the country went; To liegemen, and to kinsmen, and all her friends she sent. To Isenstein she begg'd them to come without delay. And bade give all in plenty rich gifts and garments gay. XCI Daily to Brunhild's castle early they rode and late, In troops from all sides flocking, and all in martial state. "Ay! ay!" said frowning Hagan, "ill have we done, I fear; Surely 't will be our ruin to wait this gathering here. XCII "Let her strength be only here together brought (And of the queen's intentions we little know or naught), If so her passion wills it, we're lost at once, I trow. In sooth this dainty damsel was born to work us woe." XCIII Then spoke the valiant Siegfried, "I'll undertake for all; Trust me, what now you look for, that shall ne'er befall. Safe and sound to keep you, I'll hither bring a crew Of fierce, selected champions, of whom ye never knew. XCIV "Inquire not of my journey; I hence must instant fare; The little while I'm absent God have you in his care. Again here will I quickly with a thousand men be found, The bravest and the boldest that ever moved on ground," XCV "Be sure then not to linger," the anxious Gunther said, "For we meanwhile shall ever be longing for your aid." "In a few days you'll see me at hand for your defence, And tell," said he, "fair Brunhild, that you have sent me hence." EIGHTH ADVENTURE HOW SIEGFRIED CAME TO THE NIBELUNGERS. I