Hagen came nigh to lose his wits for sorrow, and Dankwart, his brother, said, “By my troth, I rue this adventure. Once we hight warriors, and shall we perish in this country by the hand of a woman? Alack! that we ever came hither! Had my brother Hagen but his sword, and I mine, Brunhild’s men would abate their pride; I ween they would walk softer. If I had sworn peace with a thousand oaths, that maid should die sooner than that my lord should lose his life.”
“It were easy to quit this land,” said Hagen, his brother, “if we had our harness for the strife, and our good swords. This dame would be milder, I trow.”
The noble maiden heard him plain, and, with smiling mouth, she looked over her shoulder. “Since he deemeth him so bold, bring his harness, and give to the heroes their sharp weapons. It is all one to me whether they be armed or naked. I never feared the might of any man, and doubt not but I shall overcome this king.”
When they had brought the weapons, as the maid commanded, bold Dankwart grew red with joy. “Now let them drive what sport they like,” he said; “Gunther is safe, since we have our swords.”
Brunhild’s great strength appeared. They brought her a stone into the circle, heavy and huge, round also, and broad. Twelve strong knights scarce sufficed thereto. And this she threw when she had hurled the spear. Whereat the Burgundians were sore troubled, and Hagen cried, “Who is this that Gunther wooeth? Would she were the Devil’s bride in Hell!”
Then she turned back the sleeves from her white arms, and seized the shield, and brandished the spear above her head, and the contest began. Gunther was sore dismayed. If Siegfried had not helped him, certes he had lost his life; but Siegfried went up to him secretly, and touched his hand. Gunther fell in fear by reason of his magic, and he thought, “Who touched me?” He looked round and saw no man. But Siegfried said, “It is I, Siegfried, thy friend. Fear naught from the queen. Give me the shield from thy hands, and let me carry it, and give heed to what I say. Make thou the gestures, and I will do the work.” And Gunther was glad when he knew him. “Guard well the secret of my magic, for all our sakes, lest the queen slay thee. See how boldly she challengeth thee.”
Thereupon the royal maiden hurled her speak against the mickle and broad shield of Sieglind’s child, that sparks flew from it, as before a wind. The stark spear pierced through the shield, and struck fire from the coat of mail below. And the mighty man fell, and had perished but for the Tarnkappe. The blood gushed from Siegfried’s mouth. But he sprang up swiftly, and took the spear that she had shot through his buckler, and threw it back again with a great force. He thought, “I will not slay so fair a maiden,” and he turned the spear, and hurled it wit the haft loud against her harness. From her mail, also, the sparks flew as on the wind, for Siegmund’s child threw mightily; and her strength failed before the blow. King Gunther, I ween, had never done it alone.
Brunhild sprang to her feet again, and cried, “I thank thee, Gunther, for that blow.” For she thought he had done it with his own strength, nor guessed that a far mightier man had felled her.
Then, greatly wroth, she hasted and lifted the stone on high; she flung it far from her, and leaped after it with loud-ringing armour. The stone landed twenty and four paces off; but the maid sprang further. Then Siegfried went swiftly where the stone lay. Gunther lifted it, but it was the man they saw not that threw it. Siegfried was mighty, bold and big. He hurled the stone further, and he leaped further; moreover, through his magic, he had strength enow to bear King Gunther with him. The spring was made, the stone lay on the ground, and none was seen there but Gunther, the knight. Fair Brunhild was red with anger.
So Siegfried saved Gunther from death.