Siegfried thanked her courteously and placed the goblet to his lips. But though he bowed to her and the King, the toast which he whispered to himself was, "To the health of my Brunhilde! May her memory never grow dim!"
But alas! no sooner had he swallowed the potion than all his past life was blotted out! He seemed like one awakened from a heavy slumber, for he rubbed his eyes and glanced wildly about him.
"Where am I?" he asked, leaning upon a chair for support. "What has happened?"
Then his glance fell upon Gudrun who stood silent and ashamed of what she had done. As he looked, a flame of love was kindled in his heart for her, by the power of the magic draught.
"Who is this fair creature?" he asked, turning to the King. "Is she your wife?"
"She is my sister," answered Gunther. "I have no wife."
"It is not well for man to live alone; and all the more if he be king."
"That is what my brother Hagen has told me. But the one woman I could wish to win, methinks, is not attainable."
"How so?" asked Siegfried.
"She is hedged about by a barrier of fire."