But or ever the Lord of the Rhineland set hand to the water clear,
Siegfried—unshamed might he do it—unto Gunther the King drew near:
“Bethink thee of that faith royal and the pledge thou gavest me,”
He said, “ere thou sawest Brunhild in Iceland far oversea.”
Yea, he added and said, “Remember how thou swarest by thy right hand,
In the day we should bring Queen Brunhild home unto this your land,
Thou wouldst give me to wife thy sister—doth the oath unbroken remain?
Thou knowest, for that thy journey I begrudged nor travail nor pain.”
The host to the guest made answer: “Well dost thou to call it to mind.
I will break not the oath that with hand-clasp close to my soul did I bind.