"A joy to me these tidings," / the doughty Siegfried spoke,
"That so thy haughty spirit / is brought beneath the yoke,
And that yet one there liveth / master to be of thine.
Now shalt thou, noble maiden, / us follow thither to the Rhine."

[475]

Then spake the maiden shapely: / "It may not yet be so.
All my men and kindred / first the same must know.
In sooth not all so lightly / can I quit my home.
First must I bid my trusty / warriors that they hither come."

[476]

Then bade she messengers / quickly forth to ride,
And summoned in her kindred / and men from every side.
Without delay she prayed them / to come to Isenstein,
And bade them all be given / fit apparel rare and fine.

[477]

Then might ye see daily / 'twixt morn and eventide
Unto Brunhild's castle / many a knight to ride.
"God wot, God wot," quoth Hagen, / "we do an evil thing,
To tarry here while Brunhild / doth thus her men together bring.

[478]

"If now into this country / their good men they've brought
—What thing the queen intendeth / thereof know we naught:
Belike her wrath ariseth, / and we are men forlorn—
Then to be our ruin / were the noble maiden born."

[479]