Joyous strains of music penetrated to the ships, but they fell on Gudrun’s ear like the harsh cry of the screech-owl. Soon she with her maidens was conducted to the land.
The broken-hearted royal maid
With tottering steps was seen—
Shrinking from Hartmut’s proffered aid—
Approach the haughty Queen.
Ortrun, impatient, longed to make
Her loving welcome known,
For to her seemed this stranger maid
Like sister all her own.
But as she joyously draws nigh,