the kings of the earth,
  Who bear the sword aright, and are crowned with the crown of worth;
  But unpeace to the lords of evil, and the battle and the death;
  And the edge of the sword to the traitor, and the flame to the slanderous
       breath: 
  And I would that the loving were loved, and I would that the weary should
       sleep,
  And that man should hearken to man, and that he that soweth should reap. 
  Now wide in the world would I fare, to seek the dwellings of Kings,
  For with them would I do and undo, and be heart of their warfarings;
  So I thank thee, lord, for thy bidding, and here in thine house will I bide,
  And learn of thine ancient wisdom till forth to the field we ride.”

  Glad then was the murmur of folk, for the tidings had gone forth,
  And its breath had been borne to the Niblungs, and the tale of Sigurd’s
       worth.

  But the King said:  “Welcome, Sigurd, full fair of deed and of word! 
  And here mayst thou win thee fellows for the days of the peace and the
       sword;
  For not lone in the world have I lived, but sons from my loins have sprung,
  Whose deeds with the rhyme are mingled, and their names with the people’s
       tongue.”

  Then he took his hand in his hand, and into the hall they passed,
  And great shouts of salutation to the cloudy roof were cast;
  And they rang from the glassy pillars, and the Gods on the hangings stirred,
  And afar the clustering eagles on the golden roof-ridge heard,
  And cried out on the Sword of the Branstock as they cried in the other days: 
  Then the harps rang out in the hall, and men sang in Sigurd’s praise

* * * * *

  But now on the dais he meeteth the kin of Giuki the wise: 
  Lo, here is the crowned Grimhild, the queen of the glittering eyes;
  Lo, here is the goodly Gunnar with the face of a king’s desire;
  Lo, here is Hogni that holdeth the wisdom tried in the fire;
  Lo, here is Guttorm the youngest, who longs for the meeting swords;
  Lo, here, as a rose in the oak-boughs, amid the Niblung lords
  Is the Maid of the Niblungs standing, the white-armed Giuki’s child;
  And all these looked long on Sigurd and their hearts upon him smiled.

Then all gave him greeting as one who should be their fellow in mighty deeds, and the fair-armed Gudrun, Giuki’s daughter, brought him a cup of welcome, and that night the Niblungs feasted in gladness of heart.

Of Sigurd’s warfaring in the company of the Niblungs, and of his great fame and glory.

So Sigurd abode with the Niblungs all through summer and harvest time till with the stark midwinter came tidings of war.  Then the earls of Giuki donned dusky hauberks and led forth their bands from the fortress, and the fair face and golden gear of Sigurd shone among those swart-haired warriors.