So when in hall and hostel lodged and feasted they were, That noble Lady commanded to send to her Giselher, And withal her mother Uta; and to these twain did she say: "No life save weeping and mourning remaineth to me for aye!" Spake Giselher her brother: "Sister, mine heart foresees-- And I count it herein true prophet--that thy pangs and thy miseries In King Etzel's love shall vanish: if thou share his life and his throne, Let who will speak against it, meseems it shall well be done. For all thou hast lost," said her brother, "can he make amends unto thee. From the River Rhone to the Rhine-stream, from the Elbe to the uttermost sea, There is no king so mighty that men have known or seen. Well might thine heart be gladdened that he chooseth thee for his Queen." She answered: "O brother belovèd, counsel not this, I implore! Meeter for me are weeping and wailing evermore. What have I to do with a palace, in the presence of knights to shine? Long since my beauty hath faded, if beauty ever was mine." Now speaketh the Lady Uta to the daughter she loveth, and saith: "Nay, do thou, daughter belovèd, as thy brother counselleth. Hearken the voice of thy kinsfolk, and good days so shalt thou know. Too long have I seen thee sitting in lamentation and woe." {P. 170} Unto God then earnestly prayed she the path of her feet to show; For, albeit hers should be raiment and silver and gold to bestow, As of yore when she dwelt with her husband, when his life within him was whole, The glorious hours of the old time could no more gladden her soul. Aye in her heart was she musing: "And can I link my life With a husband that is a heathen--and I, a Christian wife? Reproach must then be my portion through all the earth, and shame. Though he gave the whole world's riches, not so could I stain my name!" So even there did she leave it. The livelong night till the day With deep heart-searchings haunted on her bed that lady lay; And her eyes, the starry-shining, from tears were never dry, Till she rose, and passed to the mass-tide when the morning sun was high. Now also unto the mass-tide were come those princes three; And they took the hand of their sister, and spake to her lovingly, Still counselling her unto marriage with the Lord of the Hunland folk: But never the light of smiling o'er the face of sadness broke.