Siegelind heard it too, the wife of the noble king. Greatly she
feared for her child, for full well she knew Gunther and his men.
Therefore they sought to turn the hero from this venture. Up
spake then the daring Siegfried: "Dear father mine, I would fain
ever be without the love of noble dames, if I may not woo her in
whom my heart hath great delight; whatsoever any may aver, it
will avail but naught."

"And thou wilt not turn back," spake the king, "then am I in
sooth glad of thy will and will help thee bring it to pass, as
best I may. Yet hath this King Gunther full many a haughty man.
If there were none else but Hagen, the doughty knight, he can use
such arrogance that I fear me it will repent us sore, if we woo
this high-born maid."

Then Siegfried made reply: "Wherefore need that hinder us? What
I may not obtain from them in friendly wise, that my hand and its
strength can gain. I trow that 1 can wrest from him both folk
and land."

To this Prince Siegmund replied: "Thy speech liketh me not, for
if this tale were told upon the Rhine, then durst thou never ride
unto that land. Long time have Gunther and Gernot been known to
me. By force may none win the maid, of this have I been well
assured; but wilt thou ride with warriors unto this land, and we
still have aught of friends, they shall be summoned soon."

"It is not to my mind," spake again Siegfried, "that warriors
should follow me to the Rhine, as if for battle, that I constrain
thereby the noble maid. My single hand can win her well -- with