King Gunther and king Gernot, champions bold they were,
And Ghiselar the young, a chosen peerless blade:
The lady was their sister, and much they loved the maid."
Then follows an enumeration of the heroes in attendance on king Gunther: Haghen, the fierce; Dankwart, the swift; Volker, the minstrel knight; and others; "all champions bold and free;"—and then the poet proceeds to open the argument.
"One night the queen Chrimhild dreamt her as she lay,
How she had trained and nourished a falcon, wild and gay;
When suddenly two eagles fierce the gentle hawk have slain—
Never, in this world felt she such cruel pain!
To her mother, Uta, she told her dream with fear.