1223
Eke not else desired / the noble Ruediger
Than that by the lady / leave thus granted were:
He knew himself so skilful, / might he such favor earn,
So should he her full certain / from her spoken purpose turn.
1224
Upon the morrow early / when that the mass was sung
Came the noble messengers, / whereof a mickle throng.
They that should Sir Ruediger / to court bear company,
Many a man full stately / in rich apparel might ye see.
1225
Kriemhild, dame high-stated, / — full sad she was of mood —
There Ruediger awaited, / the noble knight and good.
He found her in such raiment / as daily she did wear:
The while were her attendants / in dresses clad full rich and rare,
1226
Unto the threshold went she / the noble guest to meet,
And the man of Etzel / did she full kindly greet.
Twelve knights there did enter, / himself and eleven more,
And well were they received: / to her such guests came ne'er before.
1227
The messenger to seat him / and his men they gave command.
The twain valiant margraves / saw ye before her stand,
Eckewart and Gere, / the noble knights and keen,
Such was the lady's sorrow, / none saw ye there of cheerful mien.
1228
They saw before her sitting / full many a lady fair,
And yet the Lady Kriemhild / did naught but sorrow there.
The dress upon her bosom / was wet with tears that fell,
And soon the noble margrave / perceived her mickle grief full well.
1229
Then spake the lofty messenger: / " Daughter of king full high,
To me and these my fellows / that bear me company
Deign now the grace to grant us / that we before thee stand
And tell to thee the tidings / wherefore we rode unto thy land. "
1230
" That grace to thee is granted, " / spake the lofty queen;
" Whate'er may be thy message, / I'll let it now be seen
That I do hear it gladly: / thou'rt welcome messenger. "
That fruitless was their errand / deemed the others well to hear.
1231
Then spake of Bechelaren / the noble Ruediger:
" Pledge of true love unto thee / from lofty king I bear,
Etzel who bids thee, lady, / here royal compliment:
He hath to woo thy favor / knights full worthy hither sent.
1232
" His love to thee he offers / full heartily and free:
Fidelity that lasteth / he plighteth unto thee,
As erst to Lady Helke / who o'er his heart held sway.
Yea, thinking on her virtues / hath he full oft had joyless day. "
1233
Then spake the royal lady: / " O Margrave Ruediger,
If that known to any / my sharp sorrows were,
Besought then were I never / again to take me spouse.
Such ne'er was won by lady / as the husband I did lose. "
1234
" What is that sootheth sorrow, " / the valiant knight replied,
" An be't not loving friendship / whene'er that may betide,
And that each mortal choose him / who his delight shall be?
Naught is that so availeth / to keep the heart from sorrow free.
1235
" Wilt thou minded be to love him, / this noble master mine,
O'er mighty crowns a dozen / the power shall be thine.
Thereto of princes thirty / my lord shall give thee land,
The which hath all subdued / the prowess of his doughty hand.
1236
" O'er many a knight full worthy / eke mistress shalt thou be
That my Lady Helke / did serve right faithfully,
And over many a lady / that served amid her train,
Of high and royal lineage, " / spake the keen and valiant thane.
1237
" Thereto my lord will give thee / — he bids to thee make known —
If that beside the monarch / thou deign'st to wear a crown,
Power in fullest measure / that Helke e'er might boast:
The same in lordly manner / shalt thou wield o'er Etzel's host. "
1238
Then spake the royal lady: / " How might again my life
Have thereof desire / to be a hero's wife?
Hath death in one already / wrought me such sorrows sore,
That joyless must my days be / from this time for evermore. "
1239
Then spake the men of Hunland: / " O royal high lady,
Thy life shall there by Etzel / so full of honor be
Thy heart 'twill ever gladden / if but may be such thing:
Full many a thane right stately / doth homage to the mighty king.
1240
" Might but Helke's maidens / and they that wait on thee
E'er be joined together / in one royal company,
Well might brave knights to see them / wax merry in their mood.
Be, lady, now persuaded / — 'tis verily thy surest good. "
1241
She spake in courteous manner: / " Let further parley be
Until doth come the morrow. / Then hither come to me.
So will I give my answer / to bear upon your way. "
The noble knights and worthy / must straight therein her will obey.
1242
When all from thence were parted / and had their lodgings sought,
Then bade the noble lady / that Giselher be brought,
And eke with him her mother. / To both she then did tell
That meet for her was weeping, / and naught might fit her mood so well.
Eke not else desired / the noble Ruediger
Than that by the lady / leave thus granted were:
He knew himself so skilful, / might he such favor earn,
So should he her full certain / from her spoken purpose turn.
1224
Upon the morrow early / when that the mass was sung
Came the noble messengers, / whereof a mickle throng.
They that should Sir Ruediger / to court bear company,
Many a man full stately / in rich apparel might ye see.
1225
Kriemhild, dame high-stated, / — full sad she was of mood —
There Ruediger awaited, / the noble knight and good.
He found her in such raiment / as daily she did wear:
The while were her attendants / in dresses clad full rich and rare,
1226
Unto the threshold went she / the noble guest to meet,
And the man of Etzel / did she full kindly greet.
Twelve knights there did enter, / himself and eleven more,
And well were they received: / to her such guests came ne'er before.
1227
The messenger to seat him / and his men they gave command.
The twain valiant margraves / saw ye before her stand,
Eckewart and Gere, / the noble knights and keen,
Such was the lady's sorrow, / none saw ye there of cheerful mien.
1228
They saw before her sitting / full many a lady fair,
And yet the Lady Kriemhild / did naught but sorrow there.
The dress upon her bosom / was wet with tears that fell,
And soon the noble margrave / perceived her mickle grief full well.
1229
Then spake the lofty messenger: / " Daughter of king full high,
To me and these my fellows / that bear me company
Deign now the grace to grant us / that we before thee stand
And tell to thee the tidings / wherefore we rode unto thy land. "
1230
" That grace to thee is granted, " / spake the lofty queen;
" Whate'er may be thy message, / I'll let it now be seen
That I do hear it gladly: / thou'rt welcome messenger. "
That fruitless was their errand / deemed the others well to hear.
1231
Then spake of Bechelaren / the noble Ruediger:
" Pledge of true love unto thee / from lofty king I bear,
Etzel who bids thee, lady, / here royal compliment:
He hath to woo thy favor / knights full worthy hither sent.
1232
" His love to thee he offers / full heartily and free:
Fidelity that lasteth / he plighteth unto thee,
As erst to Lady Helke / who o'er his heart held sway.
Yea, thinking on her virtues / hath he full oft had joyless day. "
1233
Then spake the royal lady: / " O Margrave Ruediger,
If that known to any / my sharp sorrows were,
Besought then were I never / again to take me spouse.
Such ne'er was won by lady / as the husband I did lose. "
1234
" What is that sootheth sorrow, " / the valiant knight replied,
" An be't not loving friendship / whene'er that may betide,
And that each mortal choose him / who his delight shall be?
Naught is that so availeth / to keep the heart from sorrow free.
1235
" Wilt thou minded be to love him, / this noble master mine,
O'er mighty crowns a dozen / the power shall be thine.
Thereto of princes thirty / my lord shall give thee land,
The which hath all subdued / the prowess of his doughty hand.
1236
" O'er many a knight full worthy / eke mistress shalt thou be
That my Lady Helke / did serve right faithfully,
And over many a lady / that served amid her train,
Of high and royal lineage, " / spake the keen and valiant thane.
1237
" Thereto my lord will give thee / — he bids to thee make known —
If that beside the monarch / thou deign'st to wear a crown,
Power in fullest measure / that Helke e'er might boast:
The same in lordly manner / shalt thou wield o'er Etzel's host. "
1238
Then spake the royal lady: / " How might again my life
Have thereof desire / to be a hero's wife?
Hath death in one already / wrought me such sorrows sore,
That joyless must my days be / from this time for evermore. "
1239
Then spake the men of Hunland: / " O royal high lady,
Thy life shall there by Etzel / so full of honor be
Thy heart 'twill ever gladden / if but may be such thing:
Full many a thane right stately / doth homage to the mighty king.
1240
" Might but Helke's maidens / and they that wait on thee
E'er be joined together / in one royal company,
Well might brave knights to see them / wax merry in their mood.
Be, lady, now persuaded / — 'tis verily thy surest good. "
1241
She spake in courteous manner: / " Let further parley be
Until doth come the morrow. / Then hither come to me.
So will I give my answer / to bear upon your way. "
The noble knights and worthy / must straight therein her will obey.
1242
When all from thence were parted / and had their lodgings sought,
Then bade the noble lady / that Giselher be brought,
And eke with him her mother. / To both she then did tell
That meet for her was weeping, / and naught might fit her mood so well.