brave, had counseled Gunther this. Then they all took leave,
sith they would hence. One saw the guests draw nigh to Kriemhild
and also to where Dame Uta sate. Never yet were knights
dismissed in better wise. Lodgings grew empty as they rode away,
but still there stayed at home the king and all his kin and many
a noble liegeman. Daily they were seen as they went to Lady
Kriemhild. The good knight Siegfried now would likewise take his
leave; he weened not to win that on which his mind was set. The
king heard said that he would hence, but Giselher, the youth,
quite won him from the journey.

"Whither would ye ride now, noble Siegfried? Pray tarry with the
knights, I beg you, with Gunther the king and with his men.
Here, too, are many comely dames whom we shall gladly let you
see."

Then spake the mighty Siegfried: "Let stand the steeds. I listed
to ride hence, but now will I desist. The shields, too, bear
away. To my land I craved to go, in truth, but Giselher with his
great love hath turned me from it."

So the valiant knight stayed on to please his friends, nor could
he have fared more gentilly in any land. This happed because he
daily saw Kriemhild, the fair; for the sake of her unmeasured
beauty the lording stayed. With many a pastime they whiled the
hours away, but still her love constrained him and often gave him
dole. Because of this same love in later days the valiant knight
lay pitiful in death.