Then into the presence of Kriemhild passed that gallant knight. She gave to him gracious welcome, and he spake the word forthright: "Well mayst thou blithely greet me, and give me the messenger's meed For tidings of good fortune and days from sorrow freed! One seeketh thy love, O Lady: lo, here his heralds be. He is noble among the noblest that in honour and majesty Have ruled over royal dominions, or a knightly crown have worn. Proud knights be his suitors. This message from thy brother to thee have I borne." Then answered the sorrow-burdened: "Now God forbid that ye, Even thou and all my kinsmen, should make a mockery Of me in mine affliction! How should I shadow the life Of a man that hath known the heart's love of a true and faithful wife?" Earnestly she gainsaid it. Then came in twain unto her, Gernot the knight her brother, and the young prince Giselher; And lovingly did they pray her to be comforted from her woe, And to take the King to her husband, for that this to her profit should grow. Yet howsoever they pleaded, was none could turn aside The heart of that Queen of Sorrow to be another's bride. So they ceased, but they prayed her, "Suffer in any wise this thing, An thou wilt nought else, to look on the herald of Etzel the King." "Yea," answered the noble Lady, "this thing will I not deny. Upon Rüdiger the knightly, the flower of chivalry, Will I look with heart ungrudging: had another the messenger been, Yea, any save this man only, my face should he ne'er have seen." And she said: "Unto this my bower let the friend of the King draw near At morning-tide to-morrow; mine answer then shall he hear: Yea all that mine heart hath determined with mine own lips will I tell." Then she turned her again to her mourning, and the tears of her sorrow fell. Now Rüdiger the noble desired none other grace So much as this, to be suffered to see her face to face; {P. 167} For he knew the all-prevailing power of a wise man's tongue; And he thought, "If the thing may be compassed, the Queen shall consent ere long." At early morn scarce ended was holy prayer and song, When the heralds drew near: around them pressed a mighty throng To gaze on the knights to the palace which rode with Rüdiger there: In the splendour of their raiment right gallant thanes they were.