“And be he never so mighty, who is vassal still to a King,
Whatsoever his liege-lord biddeth, of force must he do the thing.”
Smiled Gunther for this delusion that in her heart had place—
Little he thought on homage when he looked upon Siegfried’s face.
“Nay, dear my lord,” she made answer, “I pray thee, help me herein—
By my love I beseech thee—that Siegfried and thy sister Kriemhild the Queen
May come unto this thy kingdom, that we may behold them here.
In all this world could be given no joy to mine heart more dear.
That gracious mien of thy sister, and her queenly courtesy,
Still as I muse thereover, how sweet is the memory,