Ho, what rich cloths of silk were borne from their treasure chambers!
With enow of this the clothing of the noble warriors was busily lined
from the neck down to their spurs. Rudeger had chosen only men that
pleased him well.
On the seventh morning the host and his warriors rode forth from
Bechelaren. Weapons and clothes a plenty they took with them through the
Bavarian land. Seldom did men assail them on the highways for robbery's
sake, and within twelve days they reached the Rhine. Then might the
tidings not be hid; men told it to the king and to his liegemen, that
stranger guests were come. The host gan say, if any knew them, he should
tell him so. One saw their sumpters bear right heavy loads. 'Twas seen
that they were passing rich.
Anon in the broad town men purveyed them quarters. When that the many
strangers had been lodged, these same lords were gazed upon full oft.
The people wondered from whence these warriors were come to the Rhine.
The host now sent for Hagen, if perchance they might be known to him.
Then spake the knight of Troneg: "None of them have I ever seen, but
when we now gaze upon them, I can tell you well from whence they ride
hither to this land. They must indeed be strangers, an' I know them not
full soon." (5)
Lodgings were now taken for the guests. The envoy and his fellowship
were come in passing costly vesture. To the court they rode wearing good
garments, cut in full cunning wise. Then spake the doughty Hagen: "As
well as I can tell, for I have not seen the lord long time, they ride as
if 'twere Rudeger from the Hunnish land, a lordly knight and a brave."
"How can I believe," spake at once the king, "that the lord of
Bechelaren be come to this land?"
When King Gunther had ended his speech, Hagen, the brave, espied the
good knight Rudeger. He and his friends all ran to meet them. Then five
hundred knights were seen dismounting from their steeds. Fair were the
men from Hungary greeted; messengers had never worn such lordly clothes.
Then Hagen of Troneg spake full loudly: "Now be these knights, the lord
of Bechelaren and all his men, welcome in God's name."
With worship the speedy knights were greeted. The next of kin to the
king went to where they stood. Ortwin of Metz spake to Rudeger: "Never
have we seen guests so gladly here at any time. This I can truly say."
On all sides they thanked the warriors for their greeting. With all
their fellowship they hied them to the hall, where they found the
king and with him many a valiant man. The lords rose from their seats;
through their great chivalry this was done. How right courteously he met
the messengers! Gunther and Gernot greeted the stranger and his vassals
warmly, as was his due. He took the good knight Rudeger by the hand
and led him to the seat where he sat himself. Men bade pour out for the
guests (full gladly this was done) passing good mead and the best of
wine that one might find in the land along the Rhine. Giselher and Gere
both were come; Dankwart and Folker, too, had heard about the strangers.
Merry they were of mood and greeted before the king the noble knights
and good.
Then spake Hagen of Troneg to his lord: "These thy knights should ever
requite what the margrave for our sake hath done; for this should the
husband of fair Gotelind receive reward."
King Gunther spake: "I cannot hold my peace; ye must tell me how fare
Etzel and Helca of the Hunnish land."
To this the margrave now made answer: "I'll gladly let you know." He
rose from his seat with all his men and spake to the king: "An' may that
be that ye permit me, O prince, so will I not conceal the tidings that I
bring, but will tell them willingly."
Quoth the king: "The tidings that have been sent us through you, these
I'll let you tell without the rede of friends. Pray let me and my
vassals hear them, for I begrudge you no honor that ye here may gain."
Then spake the worthy envoy: "My great master doth commend to you upon
the Rhine his faithful service and to all the kinsmen ye may have. This
message is sent in all good faith. The noble king bade complain to you
his need. His folk is joyless; my lady, the royal Helca, my master's
wife, is dead. Through her hath many a high-born maid been orphaned,
daughters of noble princes, whom she hath trained. Therefore it standeth
full piteously in his land; they have alas none that might befriend them
faithfully. The king's grief, I ween, will abate but slowly."
"Now God reward him," spake Gunther, "that he so willingly commendeth
his service to me and to my kin. Full gladly have I here heard his
greeting, and this both my kindred and my men shall fain requite."
Then spake the warrior Gernot of Burgundy: "The world must ever rue fair
Helca's death, for her many courtesies, which she well knew how to use."
With this speech Hagen, the passing stately knight, agreed.
Then answered Rudeger, the noble and lordly envoy: "Sith ye permit me,
O king, I shall tell you more, the which my dear lord hath hither sent
you, sith he doth live so right sorrowfully in longing after Helca. Men
told my lord that Kriemhild be without a husband, that Sir Siegfried be
dead. If this be so, then shall she wear a crown before Etzel's knights,
would ye but permit her. This my sovran bade me say."
Then spake the mighty king, full courteous was his mood: "And she care
to do this, she shall hear my pleasure. This will I make known to you in
these three days. Why should I refuse King Etzel before I've learned her
wish?"
Meanwhile men bade purvey good easement for the guests. They were served
so well that Rudeger owned he had good friends there among Gunther's men.
Hagen served him gladly, as Rudeger had done to him of yore. Till the
third day Rudeger thus remained. The king sent for his counsel (full
wisely he acted) to see whether his kinsmen would think it well that
Kriemhild take King Etzel to husband. All together they advised it, save
Hagen alone. He spake to Gunther, the knight: "Have ye but the right
wit, ye will take good care that ye never do this, tho' she were fain to
follow."
"Why," spake then Gunther, "should I not consent? Whatever pleasure
happen to the queen, I should surely grant her this; she is my sister.
We ourselves should bring it to pass, if perchance it might bring her
honor."
Then answered Hagen: "Give over this speech. Had ye knowledge of Etzel
as have I, and should she harry him, as I hear you say, then first hath
danger happed to you by right."
"Why?" quoth Gunther. "I'll take good care that I come not so near
him that I must suffer aught of hatred on his part, an' she become his
wife."