For her love is boundless deep.
Yet than I she’s nobler far,
Beautiful as still streams are,
Pure as is the purest thought,
Or as dew the night hath brought.
Yet she is my willing slave,
Full of fears, she will be brave
When I call, and come to me,
For her love is as the sea.”
The passionate tones of the singer had stirred his hearers and the laugh died out on their lips ere he had finished the first bar. Mere curiosity had become keen interest, and there was a pause in the buzz and murmur that had filled the hall. He reached his right hand to his left shoulder and from beneath the loose red plaid he wore drew forth his great sword. This was the signal. Torfrida arose from her place and, ere the astonished prince could collect his senses, tripped lightly down the hall and stood beside the aged minstrel, the company being too much astonished to hinder her. Siegfried started up in great rage, and made towards them. Quickly and with wondrous strength did Feargus draw some ponderous benches that lay about to the front of him as a fence, and warned the prince back.