which was closely guarded. There within he saw a giant standing,
who kept the castle and at whose side lay at all times his arms.
He spake: "Who is it who doth knock so rudely on the gate?"

Then bold Siegfried changed his voice and spake: "I am a knight;
do up the door, else will I enrage many a one outside to-day, who
would liefer lie soft and take his ease."

When Siegfried thus spake, it irked the warder. Meanwhile the
giant had donned his armor and placed his helm upon his head.
Quickly the mighty man snatched up his shield and opened wide the
gate. How fiercely he ran at Siegfried and asked, how he durst
wake so many valiant men? Huge blows were dealt out by his hand.
Then the lordly stranger gan defend him, but with an iron bar the
warder shattered his shield-plates. Then was the hero in dire
need. Siegfried gan fear a deal his death, when the warder
struck such mighty blows. Enow his master Siegfried loved him
for this cause. They strove so sore that all the castle rang and
the sound was heard in Nibelung's hall. He overcame the warder
and bound him, too.

The tale was noised abroad in all the Nibelungs' land. Alberich,
the bold, a savage dwarf, heard the fierce struggle through the
mountain. He armed him quick and ran to where he found the noble
stranger, as he bound the mighty giant. Full wroth was Alberich
and strong enow. On his body he bare helmet and rings of mail
and in his hand a heavy scourge of gold. Swift and hard he ran
to where Siegfried stood. Seven heavy knobs (3) hung down in
front, with which he smote so fiercely the shield upon the bold
man's arm, that it brake in parts. The stately stranger came in