With pain back to his senses return'd the childless chief;
Shrunk were his powers, and weaken'd through the strong dint of grief,
Nor was there ground for wonder. Then said his liegemen near
"My lord, best travel homeward; we must not tarry here."

EIGHTEENTH ADVENTURE
HOW SIEGMUND RETURNED HOME

[I]

The father-in-law of Kriemhild to the pale mourner went,
And kindly thus bespake her, "Our thoughts are homeward bent;
Unwelcome guests in Rhineland I ween we needs must be,
So, Kriemhild, dearest lady, ride to my land with me.

II

"Thou must not here dwell helpless among thy foemen left,
Where both of us of Siegfried foul treason hath bereft.
I'll guard thee with firm friendship and honor undefil'd
For love of thy good husband and of his noble child.

III

"All power, beloved lady, shall be thine again,
And, as thy lord intended, royally shalt thou reign.
The land, the crown, thou ownedst, thou both, as erst, shall sway.
To thee shall Siegfried's liegeman a willing service pay."