Now by this known too unto Gotlind the fair one the tidings were; And with diligent haste did the lady and her high-born daughter prepare: For a message had Rüdiger sent her that he held it a seemly thing That to cheer the heart of Kriemhild she should ride to meet her, and bring With her for a guard of honour all her vassal-array So far as Ems the river. Then hasted she to obey; And straightway thronged were the highways with folk that onward pressed, Afoot, or riding, eager to meet that queenly guest. Now was the Queen in her journey come unto Everding. They had passed through the land Bavarian unvexed of the plundering Of the robber barons which haunted the ways, as their wont was aye. Well might they have done a mischief unto so rich a prey; But Rüdiger the noble from peril warded them still: With a thousand knights, yea, haply yet more, had he fenced them from ill. {P. 178} And now was the Lady Gotlind, Rüdiger's wife, at hand, And with her a host of good knights, a great and gallant band. Now when they had crossed Traun-river by Ems, in the river-mead green, There many a booth fair-builded and many a tent was seen Wherein those guests through the night-tide sweet rest and slumber should win, Ready-reared at the Margrave's charges to honour his guests therein. From the palace prepared for the lodging of those guests Gotlind the fair Rode forward to meet her Lady: along the highways were Long lines of goodly horses with jingling bridle-reins:-- Fair welcome! Fain was the Margrave of all their loving pains. The knights that from eastward and westward along the highway rode Spurred gallantly forth to the meeting: brave horsemanship they showed, Those charging ranks of heroes of many a fair maid seen! In sooth was the good knights' service well-pleasing to the Queen. When clashed Lord Rüdiger's vassals with the guests in the mimic war, Many a splintered lance-shaft went upward soaring far From the hands of the gallant heroes as they tilted in knightly wise; And ladies' smiles were their guerdon, and the light in ladies' eyes. Now stayed is the tide of combat, and the laughing warriors greet Right courteously the strangers; and forward riding, to meet The Queen, the glorious Kriemhild, doth the Lady Gotlind go. Now knights that in ladies' service be perfect, have work enow. To meet and to greet his lady rode on Bechlaren's Lord: Right glad was the noble Gotlind to hail the lost restored Whole and unharmed from the Rhineland and from peril of the way. Vanished her fear and her sorrow as a dream at the dawning of day. So when she had given him welcome, "I pray thee light," said he, "On the grass with thy bower-maidens, all these which have followed thee." Then in knightly courtesy busy was many a high-born thane Which waited with eager service on the ladies of her train. {P. 179}