Order was given to lodge the knights in the town, and the king commanded that his guests should be courteously entreated, and that the wounded should be seen to and given good chambers. So he approved himself generous to his foes. He said to Ludger, “Thou are welcome! Much scathe have I suffered through thee; yet, if I prosper henceforth, I will consider myself well paid. God reward my warriors, for well have they served me!” “Thou has cause to thank them,” answered Ludger, “for nobler captives were never won for a king; and gold without stint shall be thine, if thou do well by me and my friends.” Said Gunther, “Ye shall both go free. Yet I must have a pledge that my foemen quit not my land till peace be sealed betwixt us.” And they promised it, and gave their hand thereon. They led them to their quarters to rest, and saw the wounded men laid softly in their beds. They set before them that were whole meat and good wine, and never were men merrier. They bare the battered shields away into safe keeping; and the bloody saddles, of which there were enow, they hid, that the women might not grieve thereat. Many a weary knight was there. The king entreated his guests right royally, and the land was full of friends and of strangers. He bade see to the sore wounded ones whose pride was brought low. To them that were skilled in leech craft they offered a rich fee of unweighed sliver and yellow gold, that they might heal the heroes of their wounds gotten in battle; the king sent also precious gifts to his guests. They that thought to ride home were bidden stay as friends. And the king took counsel how he might reward his liegemen that had done valiantly for his sake. Sir Gernot said, “Let them go hence for the present, and summon them after six weeks to a hightide. Many will then be whole that now lie sick of their wounds.” Siegfried of the Netherland would have taken leave also, but when King Gunther knew his intent, he besought him lovingly to tarry, the which Siegfried had not done but for Gunther’s sister’s sake. He was too rich to take money, albeit he well deserved it; the king loved him, and also the king’s kinsmen that had seen the deeds wrought by his hand in battle. So, for love of the maiden, he agreed to tarry, that haply he might win to see her, the which, or long, came to pass; for he knew her to his heart’s desire, and rode home joyfully afterward to his father’s land. The young knights obeyed the king’s command willingly, and practised daily at the tourney. Seats were raised on the stand before Worms for the guests that were coming into Burgundy. When it was time for them to arrive, fair Kriemhild heard the news, that they were about to hold a hightide with their friends. Then the beautiful women busied them with their kirtles and their headgear that they were to wear.