Classic Poem

345

Then spake he to the other: / " Myself will go unto
My own loving mother, / if I from her may sue
That her fair tendant maidens / help that we be arrayed
As we may go in honor / before the high majestic maid. "

346

Then spake of Tronje Hagen / with noble courtliness:
" Why wilt thou of thy mother / beg such services?
Only let thy sister / hear our mind and mood:
So shall for this our journey / her good service be bestowed. "

347

Then sent he to his sister / that he her would see,
And with him also Siegfried / Ere that such might be,
Herself had there the fair one / in rich apparel clad.
Sooth to tell, the visit / but little did displease the maid.

348

Then also were her women / decked as for them was meet.
The princes both were coming: / she rose from off her seat,
As doth a high-born lady / when that she did perceive,
And went the guest full noble / and eke her brother to receive.

349

" Welcome be my brother / and his companion too.
I'd know the story gladly, " / spake the maiden so,
" What ye now are seeking / that ye are come to me:
I pray you straightway tell me / how 't with you valiants twain may be. "

350

Then spake the royal Gunther: / " Lady, thou shall hear:
Spite of lofty spirits / have we yet a care.
To woo a maid we travel / afar to lands unknown;
We should against the journey / have rich apparel for our own. "

351

" Seat thee now, dear brother, " / spake the princess fair;
" Let me hear the story, / who the ladies are
That ye will seek as suitors / in stranger princes' land. "
Both good knights the lady / took in greeting by the hand.

352

With the twain then went she / where she herself had sat,
To couches rich and costly, / in sooth believe ye that,
Wrought in design full cunning / of gold embroidery.
And with these fair ladies / did pass the time right pleasantly.

353

Many tender glances / and looks full many a one
Fondly knight and lady / each other cast upon.
Within his heart he bore her, / she was as his own life.
Anon the fairest Kriemhild / was the doughty Siegfried's wife.

354

Then spake the mighty monarch: / " Full loving sister mine,
This may we ne'er accomplish / without help of thine.
Unto Brunhild's country / as suitor now we fare:
'Tis fitting that 'fore ladies / we do rich apparel wear. "

355

Then spake the royal maiden: / " Brother dear to me,
In whatsoever manner / my help may given be,
Of that I well assure you, / ready thereto am I.
To Kriemhild 'twere a sorrow / if any should the same deny.

356

" Of me, O noble brother, / thou shalt not ask in vain:
Command in courteous manner / and I will serve thee fain.
Whatever be thy pleasure, / for that I'll lend my aid
And willingly I'll do it, " / spake the fair and winsome maid.

357

" It is our wish, dear sister, / apparel good to wear;
That shall now directing / the royal hand prepare;
And let thy maids see to it / that all is done aright,
For we from this same journey / turn not aside for word of wight. "

358

Spake thereupon the maiden: / " Now mark ye what I say:
Myself have silks in plenty; / now send us rich supply
Of stones borne on bucklers, / so vesture we'll prepare. "
To do it royal Gunther / and Siegfried both right ready were.

359

" And who are you companions, " / further questioned she,
" Who with you apparelled / now for court shall be? "
" I it is and Siegfried, / and of my men are two,
Dankwart and Hagen, / who with us to court shall go.

360

" Now rightly what we tell thee, / mark, O sister dear:
'Tis that we four companions / for four days may wear
Thrice daily change of raiment / so wrought with skilful hand
That we without dishonor / may take our leave of Brunhild's land. "

361

After fair leave-taking / the knights departed so.
Then of her attendants / thirty maids to go
Forth from her apartments / Kriemhild the princess bade,
Of those that greatest cunning / in such skilful working had.

362

ks that were of Araby / white as the snow in sheen,
And from the land of Zazamank / like unto grass so green,
With stones of price they broidered; / that made apparel rare.
Herself she cut them, Kriemhild / the royal maiden debonair.

363

Fur linings fashioned fairly / from dwellers in the sea
Beheld by people rarely, / the best that e'er might be,
With silken stuffs they covered / for the knights to wear.
Now shall ye of the shining / weeds full many a wonder hear.

364

From land of far Morocco / and eke from Libya
Of silks the very finest / that ever mortal saw
With any monarch's kindred, / they had a goodly store.
Well showed the Lady Kriemhild / that unto them good will she bore.