"Nay, now, I care not how stark she be; I will journey, even as I have
said, to Brunhild, and take my chance. For her great beauty I must
adventure this. What if God prosper me, and she follow me to the Rhine?"

"Then I counsel thee," said Hagen, "to ask Siegfried to share with thee
this hard emprise. It were well, since he knoweth so much of Brunhild."

So the king spake, "Wilt thou help me, most noble Siegfried, to woo the
damsel? Grant me this, and if I win the royal maiden for my dear one, I
will adventure honour and life for thy sake."

Siegfried, the son of Siegmund, made answer, "Give me thy sister
Kriemhild, the high princess, and I will do it. Other meed I ask not."

Said Gunther, "I swear it, Siegfried, on thy hand. If Brunhild come
hither, I will give thee my sister to wife; and mayest thou live joyfully
with her to thy life's end."

The noble warriors sware an oath; and travail enow they endured, or they
led back the fair one to the Rhine; yea, ofttimes they were straightened
sore.

I have heard tell of wild dwarfs: how that they dwell in hollow
mountains, and wear wonderful cloaks called _Tarnkappes_. And whoso hath
this on his body cometh not in scathe by blows or spear-thrusts; nor is
he seen of any man so long as he weareth it, but may spy and hearken at
his will. His strength also waxeth thereby; so runneth the tale.

Siegfried took the _Tarnkappe_ with him that he had wrested from Albric
the dwarf. And these high and noble knights made ready for the journey.