Loud cried the valiant steward: / "Have mercy now on me.
And might I other's vassal / than one good hero's be,
To whom to be good subject / I an oath did take,
Until my death I'd serve thee." / Thus the man of cunning spake.
Alberich then bound he / as the giant before.
The mighty arm of Siegfried / did trouble him full sore.
The Dwarf began to question: / "Thy name, what may it be?"
Quoth he: "My name is Siegfried; / I weened I well were known to thee."
"I joy to hear such tidings," / Dwarf Alberich replied.
"Well now have I found thee / in knightly prowess tried,
And with goodly reason / lord o'er lands to be.
I'll do whate'er thou biddest, / wilt thou only give me free."
Then spake his master Siegfried: / "Quickly shalt thou go,
And bring me knights hither, / the best we have to show,
A thousand Nibelungen, / to stand before their lord."
Wherefore thus he wished it, / spake he never yet a word.
The giant and Alberich / straightway he unbound.
Then ran Alberich quickly / where the knights he found.
The warriors of Nibelung / he wakened full of fear.
Quoth he: "Be up, ye heroes, / before Siegfried shall ye appear."