woo thee, however he fare. Methink thee now betimes, my lord
will not let thee go. He is hight Gunther and is a lordly king.
An' he win thy love, he doth crave naught more. Forsooth this
knight, so well beseen, did bid me journey hither. I would fain
have given it over, could I have said him nay."

She spake: "Is he thy liege and thou his man, dare he assay the
games which I mete out and gain the mastery, then I'll become his
wife; but should I win, 't will cost you all your lives."

Then up spake Hagen of Troneg: "My lady, let us see your mighty
games. It must indeed go hard, or ever Gunther, my lord, give
you the palm. He troweth well to win so fair a maid."

"He must hurl the stone and after spring and cast the spear with
me. Be ye not too hasty. Ye are like to lose here your honor
and your life as well. Bethink you therefore rightly," spake the
lovely maid.

Siegfried, the bold, went to the king and bade him tell the queen
all that he had in mind, he should have no fear. "I'll guard you
well against her with my arts."

Then spake King Gunther: "Most noble queen, now mete out whatso
ye list, and were it more, that would I all endure for your sweet
sake. I'll gladly lose my head, and ye become not my wife."

When the queen heard this speech, she begged them hasten to the
games, as was but meet. She bade purvey her with good armor for
the strife: a breastplate of ruddy gold and a right good shield.