Six and fourscore towers / without they saw rise tall,
Three spacious palaces / and moulded well a hall
All wrought of precious marble / green as blade of grass,
Wherein the royal Brunhild / with company of fair ladies was.
The castle doors unbolted / were flung open wide
As out toward them / the men of Brunhild hied
And received the strangers / into their Lady's land.
Their steeds they bade take over, / and also shield from out the hand.
Then spake a man-in-waiting: / "Give o'er the sword each thane,
And eke the shining armor."— / "Good friend, thou ask'st in vain,"
Spake of Tronje Hagen; / "the same we'd rather wear."
Then gan straightway Siegfried / the country's custom to declare.
"'Tis wont within this castle, / —of that be now aware—
That never any stranger / weapons here shall bear.
Now let them hence be carried: / well dost thou as I say."
In this did full unwilling / Hagen, Gunther's man, obey.
They bade the strangers welcome / with drink and fitting rest.
Soon might you see on all sides / full many knights the best
In princely weeds apparelled / to their reception go:
Yet did they mickle gazing / who would the keen new-comers know.