Could I for herald’s guerdon give all my gold away!
Too rich for such meed are you— I’ll be your debtor aye.”
557
Said he: “If for my portion I thirty kingdoms had,
I would, by your hands given, of any gift be glad!”
“Well!” said the gracious lady, “it shall be given to you.”
Her chamberlain was bidden to fetch the herald’s due.
558
Full four-and-twenty buckles, set with bright stones and good,
She gave him for his guerdon. And yet the hero’s mood
Allowed him not to keep them;— he handed them around
Unto her nearest ladies that in the room he found.
559
Her mother gave him greeting, in kind and courtly way.
“I have yet more to tell you,” the valiant man did say,
“Of what the king requireth when to the Rhine comes he;—
If, lady, you will grant it, he’ll aye beholden be.
560
“The noble guests he bringeth— I heard him this desire—
He wishes you to welcome; and eke he doth require
That you ride forth to meet him, outside Worms, on the strand;
This doth the king, at your hands, in all good faith demand.”
561
Then spake the lovely lady: “Ready am I alway
Howe’er I can to serve him; I cannot say him nay;
All shall in loyal kindness, as he desires, be done.”
Whereat her cheek, for gladness, a heighten’d colour won.
562
No prince’s herald ever a better welcome had;
And had she dared to kiss him she would have been right glad.
How winsomely the gallant then from the dames withdrew!
As noble Siegfried counsel’d did the Burgundians do.
563
Sir Sindold and Sir Hunold, and eke Rumold the thane,
To whom the charge was given, must work with might and main
To have the seats made ready, by Worms upon the sands,
One saw the royal stewards there working with their hands!
564
Ortwein and Gere would not that aught be left undone.
They sent unto their kinsfolk on all sides, every one;
They told them of the wedding which was about to be.
The beauteous maids adorn’d them for the festivity.
565
The palace was made splendid, and deck’d was ev’ry wall
In honour of the guest-folk. King Gunther’s royal hall
Was all right well upholstered by many a foreign man.
And so this mighty wedding right merrily began.
566
Then all along the highways throughout the countryside
Were seen the three kings’ kinsmen, who bidden were to ride
And wait the guests’ arrival, who soon were to appear.
While from the stores was taken abundance of rich gear.
567
Erelong was spread the rumour that certain folk had seen
Brunhilda’s friends approaching; at which there did begin
Great stir among the people in the Burgundian land.
Ay me! what gallant warriors were seen on either hand!
568
Then spake the fair Kriemhilda: “Ye maids attending me,
Who would at this reception fain bear me company,
Go, seek from out my presses the richest robes and best:
That thereby praise and honour we gain from every guest.”
569
The warriors came shortly— who ordered to be brought
The saddles nobly-fashioned, with finest gold inwrought,
On which should ride the ladies, at Worms upon the Rhine.
One never saw horse-trappings more fitting or more fine.
570
Ha! what a golden gleaming from these gay palfreys shone,
And how the bridles sparkled with many a precious stone!
The footstools eke were golden, on carpets bright and good
Placed for the ladies’ mounting: right joyous was their mood.
571
The women’s mares were saddled, and in the court did stay
For the young maids of honour— as I erewhile did say.
Small saddle-bows and silken one saw these palfreys bear:
The finest silk, I warrant, of which you e’er could hear.
572
Then six-and-eighty matrons out of the palace went,
And on their heads were wimples. Towards Kriemhilda bent
Each beauteous dame her footsteps, in garments bright array’d;
And no less well apparell’d, came many a comely maid.
573
In number four-and-fifty, damsels of Burgundy,
The best they were and fairest that ever eye could see;
One saw their flaxen tresses, with bands of riband bright.
What Gunther had desiréd was done with zeal aright.
574
The richest stuffs then wore they, the best one e’er could find,
Before the stranger-warriors; good clothes of many a kind—
So that each sev’ral beauty might have a setting fit.
Whoso were discontented must be of little wit.
575
Of sable and of ermine was many a costume there,
And many an arm, and hand too, were made to seem more fair
With buckles and with bracelets on the silk stuffs they wore.
Should any try to tell you, his task would ne’er be o’er.
576
With many a fine-wrought girdle— so rich, and long, and gay,
Hanging o’er shining raiment— the women’s hands did play.
Their skirts of Ferrandine were, and stuff of Araby.
Among those noble maidens was gladsomeness and glee.
577
In stomacher bejewell’d was many a maiden fair
Most winsomely enlacéd. And sad indeed it were
Did not her bright complexion outshine her dress in hue.
No other king had ever so fair a retinue.
578
As now those lovely ladies in full attire were seen,
The knights who should escort them appear’d upon the scene.
High-couraged warriors were they, of mighty strength and craft;
And each, beside his buckler, did bear an ashen shaft.
Adventure X
How Brunhilda Was Received at Worms
579
Now, on the further Rhine-bank, came with a numerous band
The king and his guests with him, and drew nigh to the strand.
One saw, too, by the rein led, full many a maiden’s steed.
For those who should receive them to wait they had no need.
580
For when the folk of Iceland unto the ship were led—
And eke the Niblung people who Siegfried followéd—
They put across the water, with quick, unwearied hand,
To where, upon the quay-side, they saw the king’s friends stand.
581
Now hearken to my story! I’ll tell you how the Queen
Uté, the rich queen-mother, was with her maidens seen,
Forth coming from the castle, whence she herself did ride.
Then many an acquaintance ’twixt knight and maid was tied.
582
Kriemhilda’s palfrey led was by Gere the Margrave
As far as the fort gateway, where Siegfried, warrior brave,
Must thenceforth wait upon her;— she was a lovely maid!
And he by this fair lady was, later, well repaid.
583
Alongside Lady Uté, Ortwein the bold rode he,
With many knights and maidens who bare them company.
Ne’er at a great reception, we must confess, had been
So great a throng of ladies as here together seen.
584
And many a fair encounter took place amid the train
Of praise-deserving heroes, (they could not well refrain)
Before the fair Kriemhilda, until the ship they reach.
Then from their palfreys lift they, the well-dight ladies each.
585
The king had now cross’d over, and many a guest of worth.
Hey! what stout shafts were shiver’d for these fair ladies’ mirth!
One heard the hurtling tumult, as lance on buckler rang,
Ay, and the rich shield-bosses that in the press did clang!
586
The fair ones now were standing the landing-place upon;—
With all his guests had Gunther up from the vessel gone;
He led the Lady
