Hagen and Dankwart, fearing for their master,—­who was doomed to die in case of failure,—­began to mutter that some treachery was afoot, and openly regretted that they had consented to lay aside their weapons upon entering the castle.  These remarks, overheard by Brunhild, called forth her scorn, and she contemptuously bade her servants bring the strangers’ arms, since they were afraid.

    “Well heard the noble maiden the warrior’s words the while,
    And looking o’er her shoulder, said with a scornful smile,
    ’As he thinks himself so mighty, I’ll not deny a guest;
    Take they their arms and armor, and do as seems them best.

    “’Be they naked and defenseless, or sheath’d in armor sheen,
    To me it nothing matters,’ said the haughty queen. 
    ’Fear’d yet I never mortal, and, spite of yon stern brow
    And all the strength of Gunther, I fear as little now.’”
          
                              Nibelungenlied (Lettsom’s tr.).

[Sidenote:  Siegfried and the Tarnkappe.] While these preliminaries were being settled, Siegfried had gone down to the ship riding at anchor, and all unseen had donned his magic cloud-cloak and returned to the scene of the coming contest, where he now bade Gunther rely upon his aid.

“’I am Siegfried, thy trusty friend and true;
Be not in fear a moment for all the queen can do.’

“Said he, ’Off with the buckler, and give it me to bear;
Now what I shall advise thee, mark with thy closest care. 
Be it thine to make the gestures, and mine the work to do.’”
Nibelungenlied (Lettsom’s
tr.).

In obedience to these directions, Gunther merely made the motions, depending upon the invisible Siegfried to parry and make all the attacks.  Brunhild first poised and flung her spear with such force that both heroes staggered and almost fell; but before she could cry out victory, Siegfried had caught the spear, turned it butt end foremost, and flung it back with such violence that the princess fell and was obliged to acknowledge herself outdone.

[Sidenote:  Brunhild’s defeat.] Nothing daunted, however, by this first defeat, she caught up the massive stone, flung it far from her, and leaping after it, alighted beside it.  But even while she was inwardly congratulating herself, and confidently cherishing the belief that the stranger could not surpass her, Siegfried caught up the stone, flung it farther still, and grasping Gunther by his broad girdle, bounded through the air with him and landed far beyond it.  Brunhild was outdone in all three feats, and, according to her own promise, belonged to the victor, Gunther, to whom she now bade her people show all due respect and homage.

    “Then all aloud fair Brunhild bespake her courtier band,
    Seeing in the ring at distance unharm’d her wooer stand: 
    ’Hither, my men and kinsmen, low to my better bow. 
    I am no more your mistress; you’re Gunther’s liegemen now.’”
                                        Nibelungenlied (Lettsom’s tr.).