mong the fields of corn, in manly
games and sports, in music and dancing, in feasting and in pleasant
talk. And of all the noble folk who had ever sat at Gunther's table, or
hunted in the Burgundian woods, none were so worthy or so fair as the
proud young lord of the Nibelungens.

One day in early autumn a party of strange knights rode up to the
castle, and asked to speak with the Burgundian kings. They were led
straightway into the great hall; and Gunther and his brothers welcomed
them, as was their wont, right heartily, and asked them from what
country they had come, and what was their errand.

"We come," they answered, "from the North country; and we bring word
from our lords and kings, Leudiger and Leudigast."

"And what would our kingly neighbors say to us?" asked Gunther.

Then the strangers said that their lords had become very angry with the
Burgundian kings, and that they meant, within twelve weeks from that
day, to come with a great army, and lay the country waste, and besiege
their city and castle. All this they had sworn to do unless the
Burgundians would make peace with them upon such terms as Leudiger and
Leudigast should please to grant.

When Gunther and his brothers heard this, they were struck with dismay.
But they ordered the messengers to be well cared for and handsomely
entertained within the palace until the morrow, at which time they
should have the Burgundians' answer. All the noblest knights and
earl-folk were called together, and the matter was laid before them.

"What answer shall we send to our rude neighbors of the North?" asked
Gunther.

Gernot and the young Giselher declared at once for war. Old Hagen and
other knights, whose prudence was at least equal to their bravery, said
but little. It was known, that, in the armies of the North-kings, there
were at least forty thousand soldiers; but in Burgundy there were not
more than thirty thousand fighting-men, all told. The North-kings'
forces were already equipped, and ready to march; but the Burgundians
could by no means raise and arm any considerable body of men in the
short space of twelve weeks. It would be the part of wisdom to delay,
and to see what terms could best be made with their enemies. Such were
the prudent counsels of the older knights, but Gernot and the young
chief Volker would not listen to such words.

"The Burgundians are not cowards," said they. "We have never been foiled
in battle; never have we been the vassals o