377.
There, standing, at the windows, was many a lovely child;
A high wind fair was blowing— the ship’s sail soon was fill’d.
The gallant band of heroes on Rhine were floating free;
Then spake the royal Gunther: “Who now shall skipper be?”
378.
“That will I be!” cried Siegfried, “for I can down the flood
Right well and safely steer you, doubt not, ye heroes good;
The proper water-channels, I well do understand.”
Then joyously they parted from the Burgundian land.
379.
Sir Siegfried took a boathook, and stoutly did it grip,
And, leaning on it strongly, from strand he shoved the ship;
The mighty man, King Gunther, did likewise seize an oar,
And soon these worthy heroes had cleared them from the shore.
380.
They carried costly viands, and plenty of good wine,—
The best that had been vintaged upon the banks of Rhine.
Their horses stood right firmly,— they had a well-found stall;—
Their vessel voyaged smoothly; small ill did them befall.
381.
Then they unfurl’d the sailcloths,— the stout sails, strained and tight,—
And twenty miles they sailéd, or ever it was night,
With a good wind to help them down stream, toward the sea.
Their steadfast toil was later those brave ones’ woe to be.
382.
Upon the twelfth day morning, as we have heard men say,
The wind had borne the vessel far distant, and away
Toward Isenstein the fortress, in Queen Brunhilda’s land:
To all of them, save Siegfried, it was an unknown strand.
F
