served him, the which he later quite forgot. Such service he had
seldom done afore, that he should stand at any here's stirrup.
Then he led his own steed from the ship. All this the comely
dames of noble birth saw through the casements. The steeds and
garments, too, of the lusty knights, of snow-white hue, were
right well matched and all alike; the bucklers, fashioned well,
gleamed in the hands of the stately men. In lordly wise they
rode to Brunhild's hall, their saddles set with precious stones,
with narrow martingales, from which hung bells of bright and
ruddy gold. So they came to the land, as well befit their
prowess, with newly sharpened spears, with well-wrought swords,
the which hung down to the spurs of these stately men. The
swords the bold men bore were sharp and broad. All this
Brunhild, the high-born maid, espied.

With the king came Dankwart and Hagen, too. We have heard tales
told of how the knights wore costly raiment, raven black of hue.
Fair were their bucklers, mickle, good and broad. Jewels they
wore from the land of India, the which gleamed gloriously upon
their weeds. By the flood they left their skiff without a guard.
Thus the brave knights and good rode to the castle. Six and
eighty towers they saw within, three broad palaces, (1) and one
hall well wrought of costly marble, green as grass, wherein
Brunhild herself sate with her courtiers. The castle was
unlocked and the gates flung wide. Then ran Brunhild's men to
meet them and welcomed the strangers into their mistress' land.
One bade relieve them of their steeds and shields.

Then spake a chamberlain: "Pray give us now your swords and your
shining breastplates, too."