SIEGFRIED COMES HOME
The walls of the old castle rang. King Siegmund, his knights and
liegemen, all were welcoming Prince Siegfried home. They had not seen
their hero-prince since he had been sent long years before to be under
the charge of Mimer the blacksmith.
He had grown but more fair, more noble, they thought, as they gazed
upon his stalwart limbs, his fearless eyes.
And what tales of prowess clustered around his name! Already their
Prince had done great deeds as he had ridden from land to land.
The King and his liegemen had heard of the slaughter of the terrible
dragon, of the capture of the great treasure, of the defiance of the
warlike and beautiful Brunhild. They could wish for no more renowned
prince than their own Prince Siegfried.
Thus Siegmund and his subjects rejoiced that the heir to the throne
was once again in his own country.
In the Queen's bower, too, there was great joy. Sieglinde wept, but
her tears were not those of sadness. Sieglinde wept for very gladness
that her son had come home safe from his wonderful adventures.
Now Siegmund wished to give a great feast in honour of his son. It
should be on his birthday which was very near, the birthday on which
the young Prince would be twenty-one years of age.
Far and wide throughout the Netherlands and into distant realms
tidings of the feast were borne. Kinsmen and strangers, lords and
ladies all were asked to the banquet in the great castle hall where
Siegmund reigned supreme.
It was the merry month of June when the feast was held, and the sun
shone bright on maidens in fair raiment, on knights in burnished
armour.
[Illustration: Knighted by the royal hand of Siegmund the King.]
Siegfried was to be knighted on this June day along with four hundred
young squires of his father's realm. The Prince was clad in gorgeous
armour, and on the cloak flung around his shoulders jewels were seen
to sparkle in the sunlight, jewels made fast with gold embroidery
worked by the white hands of the Queen and her fair damsels.
In games and merry pastimes the hours of the day sped fast away, until
the great bell of the Minster pealed, calling the gay company to the
house of God for evensong. Siegfried and the four hundred squires
knelt before the altar, ere they were knighted by the royal hand of
Siegmund the King.
The solemn service ended, the new-made knights hastened back to the
castle, and there in the great hall a mighty tournament was held.
Knights who had grown grey in service tilted with those who but that
day had been given the grace of knighthood. Lances splintered, shields
fell before the mighty onslaughts of the gallant warriors, until King
Siegmund bade the tilting cease.
Then in the great hall feasting and song held sway until daylight
faded and the stars shone bright.
Yet no weariness knew the merry-makers. The next morning, and for six
long summer days, they tilted, they sang, they feasted.
When at length the great festival drew to a close, Siegmund in the
presence of his guests gave to his dear son Siegfried many lands and
strong castles over which he might be lord.
To all his son's comrades, too, the King gave steeds and costly
raiment, while Queen Sieglinde bestowed upon them freely coins of
gold. Such abundant gifts had never before been dreamed of as were
thus lavished by Siegmund and Sieglinde on their guests.
As the rich nobles looked upon the brave young Prince Siegfried, there
were some who whispered among themselves that they would fain have him
to rule in the land.
Siegfried heard their whispers, but in no wise did he give heed to the
wish of the nobles.
Never, he thought, while his beautiful mother and his bounteous father
lived, would he wear the crown.
Indeed Siegfried had no wish to sit upon a throne, he wished but to
subdue the evil-doers in the land. Or better still he wished to go
forth in search of new adventure. And this right soon he did.