his knights and his liegemen were well pleased.

There was a queen high throned across the sea, that had not her like,
beyond measure fair and of mickle strength, and her love was for that
knight only that could pass her at the spear. She hurled the stone and
leapt after it to the mark. Any that desired the noble damsel's love
must first win boldly in these three games. If he failed but in one, he
lost his head.

And oft had this happened already, when the rumour thereof reached the
noble warrior by the Rhine, who fixed his desire upon the maiden, the
which, or all was done, cost the life of many heroes.

On a day that the king sat with his men, and they cast to and fro whom
their prince might best take to wife for his own comfort and the good of
his land, the lord of Rhineland said, "I will hence across the sea to
Brunhild, let what will betide. For her sake I will peril my body, for
I lose it if I win her not to wife."

"Do so not," said Siegfried. "Cruel is the queen, and he that would woo
her playeth too high a stake. Make not this journey."

But King Gunther answered, "Never yet was woman born so stark and bold,
that, with this single hand, I could not vanquish her in strife."

But Siegfried said, "Peace! Thou knowest her not. Wert thou four men,
thou wert no match for her grim wrath. In good faith I counsel thee to
let the matter be. If thou lovest thy life, come not in such straits for
her sake."