These favour’d knights the lady did take now by the hand.
352
And with them straight returnéd to where she sat afore.
Rich mattresses, I doubt not were spread upon the floor,
With pictures fair embroidered, set off with golden thread.
Then must they with the ladies a pleasant time have had.
353
And friendly mutual glances, and looks that were not loth,
Caused many a thought to waken within the hearts of both.
He in his heart aye bore her, dear as his very life;
And soon, by steadfast service, he won her for his wife.
354
The rich king spake unto her: “O dearest sister mine,
This thing that we have purposed fails without help of thine.
In Queen Brunhilda’s country some pleasure we desire;
And need, in ladies’ presence, the goodliest attire.”
355
Then did the maiden answer: “Belovéd brother mine,
Ready am I, at all times, to serve, in need of thine;—
Of that thou mayst be certain: it is Kriemhilda’s part.
Should any one deny thee ’twould vex her to the heart.
356
“Nor shouldst thou, noble hero, beg of me anxiously—
Thou shouldst command my service, in lordly style and free.
For whatsoever please thee, for that I’m ready aye,
And gladly will I do it;” the maiden sweet did say.
357
“ ’Tis our desire, dear sister, in goodly garb to stand,
Which you may help provide us, with your own noble hand:
So set your women working, that all may be well done—
For we about this journey will be gainsaid by none.”
358
Then spake again the maiden: “Now mark what I shall say!
I have the silk already: see that we get, straightway,
Some gems from off your bucklers: we’ll work them on the cloth.”
Then Gunther and Sir Siegfried obeyed her, nothing loth.
359
“And who may be the comrades,” inquired the royal maid,
“Who shall to court go with you, thus gorgeously arrayed?”
“I and three more,” he answered, “and two my men will be,
Sir Dankwart and Sir Hagen;— these go to court with me.
360
“And mark you well, dear lady, and list to what I say!—
We four companions must have enough for four days’ stay.
Three shifts of clothing daily, of good stuff all of it,
That we Brunhilda’s country without disgrace may quit.”
361
With kind farewells the heroes soon after did depart.
Then, of her maidens, thirty, well skilled in needle-art,
Did the young queen Kriemhilda call from their room, in haste;
These all for suchlike labours had wit beyond the rest!
362
Arabian samite was there, white as new-fallen snow,
And Zazemang silks also— so green doth clover grow—
Whereon they wrought the jewels; fine clothes, in sooth, they were;
The peerless maid, Kriemhilda, herself the cloth did shear.
363
Of foreign fish-skin made they the linings, good and rare,
For stranger-folk to stare at— as many as there were;
And these with silk were covered, as then the mode did hold.
There might be many a marvel of this bright raiment told.
364
From far Morocco’s borders, and from the Libyan shore,
The very choicest samite, that e’er enriched the store
Of any king soever— this had they, and to spare.
Right plainly showed Kriemhilda to whom she kindness bare!
365
Since they on this state journey determined to set forth,
Plain ermine furs they reckoned of insufficient worth.
So over them fur trimmings of coal-black hue they set:
On high-days such like garments brave knights right well befit.
366
Amidst Arabian gold-work there glittered many a gem.
So careful were the women, naught was too small for them.
In seven weeks the raiment was all prepared aright,
And eke the weapons thereto for every gallant knight.
367
When this was all made ready, upon the banks of Rhine
Was diligently fashion’d a little vessel, fine
And strong, which down the river should bear them to the sea.
The noble maids by this time were of their tasks weary.
368
’Twas told unto the warriors that all things were to hand
That they were to take with them;— all their apparel grand,
Such as they had desiréd; it all was now complete:
So would they on the Rhine-bank no longer stay their feet.
369
Therefore, to fetch their comrades, a messenger was bade,
That they should come and look on this raiment newly made;—
It might be, for the heroes, too long, or else too small.
But ’twas of the right measure: they thanked the ladies all.
370
For all who came and saw it were bounden to confess,
In all the world they never had seen more noble dress.
They might be proud such clothing in any court to wear;—
Of finer knights’ apparel, in sooth, knew no one there.
371
Thanks manifold and hearty their judgment did receive.
And then these joyous warriors desired to take their leave;—
This did the noble comrades with knightly courtesy.
Bright eyes were then, with weeping, all sad and watery.
372
She said: “My dearest brother, you still have time to stay,
And woo some other woman, ’twould be the better way.
You would not then endanger your body and your life:
Here might you find, much nearer, as highly-born a wife!”
373
Her heart, I ween, foreboded what, later, did befall:
As ev’ry word was spoken they fell to weeping all.
The gold upon their bosoms was tarnished with the tears
Which rainéd from their eyelids, by reason of their fears.
374
Again she spake: “Sir Siegfried, let me commend, I pray,
Unto your truth and kindness, my brother dear alway;—
That no mischance befall him in Queen Brunhilda’s land.”
The gallant hero swore it, upon Kriemhilda’s hand.
375
The mighty thane thus answered: “So long as I shall live,
You, to his safety, lady, no anxious thought need give;
I safe and sound will bring him home to the Rhine;” he said,
“That know now of a surety.” The fair maid bow’d her head.
376
Their gilded shields were carried straight down unto the shore,
And to the ship was taken of clothing their whole store;
They bade men bring their horses, they hasted to be gone.
Then was by beauteous women much bitter weeping done.
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
