And the brightness of her splendour floats forth of the cloudy bars,
So before all other women shone out that Queen of Love.
Well might the hearts of the heroes be uplifted for joy thereof!
Paced onward before the maidens the stately chamberlains.
Now could they forbear no longer, those noble-hearted thanes,
But to gaze on her winsome sweetness forward still did they press.
Then was Siegfried’s heart joy-ravished, and anon in heaviness.
In his inmost soul was he musing: “How dared I dream such bliss
That I, I ever should woo thee?—an idle dream was this!
Yet must I for aye be a stranger? Better that I lay dead!”