Dame Brunhild to content them gave much apparel grand.
734
Then said the king: “This message ye’ll take, my warriors bold,
Wherewith I now entrust ye —see that ye naught withhold—
Unto the mighty Siegfried and to my sister dear:
That in this world doth no one more kindness to them bear.
735
“And pray that both do shortly come to us on the Rhine,
For which we’ll ever thank them, I and this lady mine.
Before this next midsummer he and his men shall see
Things done, which to his pleasure and honour great shall be.
736
“And likewise to King Siegmund my service take and say,
That I and all my people be bound to him alway.
Say also to my sister, that she must tarry not;
More worthy entertainment shall never be her lot.”
737
Brunhilda and Queen Uté, and every dame at hand,
Sent messages of service to all in Siegfried’s land;
Unto the lovely women, and many a man of worth.—
Then by the king’s good pleasure the messengers set forth.
738
In trav’lling guise they journey’d; their steeds and wearing-gear
Were ready made beforehand; so from the land they fare.
They made good progress onward to where their goal did lie,
The king came with an escort to speed his embassy.
739
At end of three weeks’ riding they came into the land
Wherein the Niblung stronghold, where they were sent, did stand
On the Norwegian border; and there they found the thane.
Both steeds and men were weary with their long journey’s pain.
740
Then was it unto Siegfried and to Kriemhilda said
How knights had come on horseback and so apparelléd
As in Burgundian country the fashion was that day:
Straight from the couch upsprang she whereon she resting lay.
741
And quickly to a window she bade a maiden go,
Who saw the gallant Gere stand in the court below,
Him and the comrades with him, who had been thither sent;
Instead of all her heartache how great was her content!
742
Unto the king then spake she: “Now look you down below,
How they with doughty Gere about the courtyard go,
Whom my good brother Gunther here down the Rhine hath sent!”
The stalwart Siegfried answered: “We’ll make them well content.”
743
Then all the court attendants did hasten out to greet,
And every one among them did speak a welcome meet;
They gave unto the envoys the best words that they had.
The old King Siegmund likewise was of their coming glad.
744
A lodging was appointed for Gere and his men,
The horses too were cared for. The messengers went then
Unto the hall where Siegfried near to Kriemhilda sat.
At court they had free entry: and therefore did they that.
745
The host rose with the hostess and near to them did stand.
Right well was Gere welcomed from the Burgundian land,
With all his knightly comrades— King Gunther’s men to wit.
The noble Gere bade they upon the bench to sit.
746
“Before we sit allow us to tell you of our news;
Though weary with our journey, to stand the while we choose.
We have to give a message which unto you we bring
From Gunther and Brunhilda— and weighty is this thing.
747
“And likewise what Dame Uté, your mother, sendeth you,
And Giselher the young knight, and noble Gernot too,
And all your nearest kinsfolk, from whom we have command
To offer you their greeting from the Burgundian land.”
748
“Now God reward ye, heralds,” cried Siegfried, “and I trust
Unto your truth and kindness— as towards friends we must—
So likewise doth their sister;— and now your tidings give
If still our friends belovéd at home in gladness live.
749
“Since we from them departed hath no one evil done
Unto Kriemhilda’s kinsmen? let that to me be known.
My faithful help is ready in ev’ry time of need,
Until mine aid and service their foes shall rue indeed!”
750
Then quoth the Margrave Gere— he was a warrior good:
“Right happily abide they in all good livelihood;
They bid you to the Rhineland, to a high festival;
Right gladly will they see you, of that doubt not at all.
751
“They pray my lady also that she will thither wend
So soon as e’er the winter shall come unto its end.
Before this next midsummer your faces would they see.”
Then spake the stalwart Siegfried: “Nay, that can hardly be!”
752
But further spake Sir Gere, from the Burgundian land:
“It is your mother Uté who maketh this demand;
Eke Giselher and Gernot, ye must not them gainsay:
That ye be so far distant I hear complaints each day.
753
“Brunhilda, too, my mistress, and all her maidens fair
Rejoice at this my errand; if likelihood there were
That they once more might see you, happy would be their mood.”
Unto the fair Kriemhilda this message seemed right good.
754
As Gere was her kinsman, the host then bade him sit.
Wine for the guests he ordered; nor long they wanted it.
And thither, too, came Siegmund, who had the heralds seen;
To the Burgundian heroes he spake with friendly mien:
755
“Be welcome, Gunther’s liegemen, ye warriors, every one!
Since it hath happ’d that Siegfried my son to wife hath won
Kriemhilda fair, more often ye would we gladly see
In this our land, if truly to us ye’ll friendly be.”
756
They said that if he wish’d it they’d gladly come again.
And so in pleasure vanish’d their weariness and pain.
The messengers were seated, and food was brought them there:
For guests so welcome Siegfried had plenty of good fare.
757
For nine days’ space and longer to stay they were constrain’d.
Until, at last, the horsemen, who would be gone, complain’d
That back into their country they never more would ride.
Meanwhile his friends King Siegfried had summon’d to his side,
758
To ask them what they counsell’d: would they go to the Rhine?
“He hath sent here to fetch me, Gunther, that friend of mine—
He and his kinsfolk bid us to keep festivity:
I’d gladly go there, save that his land too far doth lie.
759
“They also bid Kriemhilda to go along with me.
Now counsel me, dear kinsmen, how thither come shall she?
If I through thirty kingdoms my men, for them, must lead,
Still Siegfried’s hand to serve them must ready be indeed.”
760
Then spake his chiefs unto him: “If you’ve a mind unto
The journey to this hightide, we’ll counsel what to do:
You with a thousand warriors unto the Rhine shall ride;
So may you with all honour in Burgundy abide.”
761
Then spake the noble Siegmund, of Netherland the lord:
“Will ye unto this feasting, and tell me not a word?
An if it will not shame you I’ll ride along with you;
I’ll take a hundred swordsmen to swell your retinue.”
762
“Wilt thou in sooth ride with us, my own good father dear?”
Exclaimed the gallant Siegfried: “right gladly that I hear.
Before twelve days are over my fatherland I’ll leave.”
To all who did desire them they steeds and raiment gave.
763
Now that the noble ruler was minded soon to start,
The heralds swift were bidden straight homewards to depart,
And unto his wife’s kinsmen upon the Rhine
