ot, lady; if I
live, I will bring him back safe to the Rhine. I swear it by mine own
body."

And the fair maiden thanked him.

They carried down the shields of ruddy gold to the strand, and stowed
their armour in the vessel, and let fetch their horses, for they were
eager to be gone. The women made mickle dole. Fair damsels stood at
the windows. The fresh wind caught the sail, and lo! the good knights
sat on the Rhine.

Then said Gunther, "Who shall be steersman?"

"That will I be," answered Siegfried. "Trust me, ye heroes, and I will
pilot you hence, for I know the currents." So with stout hearts they
left Burgundy. Siegfried took hold of the pole and pushed from the
strand. Gunther himself took an oar, and they fell away from the shore.
They had rich meats with them, and Rhine wine of the best. Their horses
stood easy and quiet; their boat flew light, and misadventure they had
none. Their strong sails filled, and they made twenty miles or night
fell, for the wind favoured them. But their high emprise brought many
women dole. They say that by the twelfth morning the wind had blown them
afar to Isenstein in Brunhild's land, the which none had seen before
that, save Siegfried. When King Gunther beheld so many towers and
broad marches, he cried out, "Now say, friend Siegfried; knowest thou
whose are these castles and these fair lands? By my troth, I have never
in my life seen castles so many and so goodly as stand there before us.
A mighty man he must be that hath builded them."

Whereto Siegfried made answer, "Yea, I know well. They are all
Brunhild's--towers and lands, and the castle of Isenstein. I say sooth;
and many fair women shall ye behold this day. Now I counsel you, O
knights, for so it seemeth good to me, that ye be all of one mind and one
word; we must stand warily before Brunhild the queen. And when we see
the fair one amidst of her folk, be sure that ye tell all the same story:
that Gunther is my lord, and I his liegeman. So shall he win to his
desire. Yet this I do less for love of thee than for the fair maid, thy
sister, that is to me as my soul and mine own body, and for whom I gladly
serve, that I may win her to wife."

They promised with one accord, and none gainsayed him through pride, the
which stood them in good stead when the king came to stand before
Brunhild.

Seventh Adventure

How Gunther Won Brunhild

Meanwhile the ship was come nigh to the castle, and the ki