Far away in the long ago there lived a mighty king with his goodwife and his brave son, Siegfried.  Their home was at Xanten, where the river Rhine flows lazily along.

The young prince was carefully taught.  But when his education was nearly finished, his father said: 

“Siegfried, there is a mighty smith named Mimer.  It will be well for you to learn all you can of him in regard to the making of arms.”

So Siegfried went to work at the trade of a smith.  It was not long before he excelled his teacher.  This pleased Mimer, who spent many spare hours with his pupil, telling him stories of the olden times.

After awhile, he took Siegfried into his confidence.  He said: 

“There is a powerful knight in Burgundy who has challenged every smith of my country to make a weapon strong enough to pierce his coat of mail.

“I long to try,” Mimer went on, “but I am now old and have not strength enough to use the heavy hammer.”

At these words Siegfried jumped up in great excitement.

“I will make the sword, dear master,” he cried.  “Be of good cheer.  It shall be strong enough to cut the knight’s armour in two.”

Early the next morning, Siegfried began his work.  For seven days and seven nights the constant ringing of his hammer could be heard.  At the end of that time Siegfried came to his master with a sword of the finest steel in his right hand.

Mimer looked it all over.  He then held it in a stream of running water in which he had thrown a fine thread.  The water carried the thread against the edge of the sword, where it was cut in two.

“It is without a fault,” cried Mimer with delight.

“I can do better than that,” answered Siegfried, and he took the sword and broke it into pieces.

Again he set to work.  For seven more days and seven more nights he was busy at his forge.  At the end of that time he brought a polished sword to his master.

Mimer looked it over with the greatest care and made ready to test it.

He threw the fleeces of twelve sheep into the stream.  The current carried them on its bosom to Siegfried’s sword.  Instantly, each piece was divided as it met the blade.  Mimer shouted aloud in his Joy.

“Balmung” (for that was the name Siegfried gave the sword) “is the finest weapon man ever made,” he cried.

Siegfried was now prepared to meet the proud knight of Burgundy.

The very first thrust of the sword, Balmung, did the work.  The head and shoulders of the giant were severed from the rest of the body.  They rolled down the hillside and fell into the Rhine, where they can be seen even now, when the water is clear.  At least, so runs the story.  The trunk remained on the hilltop and was turned to stone.

Soon after this Mimer found that Siegfried longed to see the world and make himself famous.  So he bound the sword Balmung to the young prince’s side, and told him to seek a certain person, who would give him a fine war-horse.