Then spake she rich in sorrow: / "What thing beginnest thou,
Good my lord Siegmund? / This case thou dost not know.
In sooth hath here King Gunther / so many a valiant knight,
Lost are ye all together, / will ye the thanes withstand in fight."
With shields upraised they ready / for the fight did stand.
But the queen full noble / did straightway give command
To those high knights, and prayed them, / their purpose to give o'er.
That she might not dissuade them, / in sooth to her was sorrow sore.
Spake she thus: "Lord Siegmund, / thou shalt this thing let be
Until more fitting season. / Seek will I e'er with thee
Full to avenge my husband. / Who him from me hath ta'en,
An I shall know him guilty, / in me shall surely find his bane.
"Of warriors proud and mighty / are many here by Rhine,
Therefore will I advise not / the struggle to begin.
For one that we can muster / good thirty men have they;
As unto us their dealing, / God them requite in equal way.
"Here shall ye bide with me / and help my grief to bear;
Soon as dawns the morning, / ye noble knights and rare,
Help me my loved husband / prepare for burial."
"That shall be done full willing," / spake the doughty warriors all.