castle, with six and
eighty towers, built of purest marble, green as grass. In that castle
there lives the fairest of all Earth's daughters, Brunhild, the maiden
of the spring-time. In the early days she was one of Odin's Valkyrien;
and with other heavenly maidens it was her duty to follow, unseen, in
the wake of armies, and when they met in battle to hover over the field,
and with kisses to waken the dead heroes, and lead their souls away
to Odin's glad banquet-hall. But upon a day she failed to do the
All-Father's bidding, and he, in anger, sent her to live among men, and
like them to be short-lived, and subject to old age and death. But the
childless old king of Isenland took pity upon the friendless maiden, and
called her his daughter, and made her his heir. Then Odin, still more
angered, sent the thorn of sleep to wound the princess. And sleep seized
upon every creature in Isenland, and silence reigned in the halls of the
marble palace. For Odin said, 'Thus shall they all sleep until the hero
comes, who will ride through fire, and awaken Brunhild with a kiss.'

"At last the hero so long waited for came. He passed the fiery barrier
safe, and awoke the slumbering maiden; and all the castle sprang
suddenly into life again. And Brunhild became known once more as the
most glorious princess in this mid-world. But the sun-bright hero who
freed her from her prison of sleep vanished from Isenland, and no one
knew where he went; but men say that he rides through the noble world,
the fairest and the best of kings. And Brunhild has sought for him in
many lands; and, although all folk have heard of his deeds, none know
where he dwells. And so, as a last resort, she has sent heralds into
every land to challenge every king to match his skill with hers in three
games of strength,--in casting the spear, in hurling the heavy stone,
and in leaping. The one who can equal her in these feats shall be king
of Isenland, and share with her the throne of Isenstein. And by this
means she hopes to find the long-absent hero; for she believes that
there is no other prince on earth whose strength and skill are equal to
her own. Many men have already risked their lives in this adventure, and
all have failed.

"And now, King Gunther," continued the herald, "I have come by her
orders into Rhineland, and I deliver the challenge to you. If you
accept, and are beaten, your life is forfeited. If you succeed, the
fairest kingdom and the most beautiful