When the King with his wife came riding up from the river-bank, As maid after maid was presented, named was each, and her rank, By Herrat, and Kriemhild greeted each as a friend long known. In what might she sat and what honour soon upon Helka's throne! Duteous service and loyal waited upon her aye; And ever the Queen was giving: gold, lovely-woven array, Silver and costly gemstones--all goodly things soe'er That she brought over Rhine into Hunland; for her bounty was free as air. Vowed evermore to serve her, and proud withal to obey Were the kinsmen of King Etzel and all that owned his sway, So that never the Lady Helka ruled with such power and might; For unto the death of Kriemhild were they bound by that troth-plight. So exceeding great was the glory of the King, so famed his land, That wherever knights were yearning with gallant heart and hand In knightly sport to prove them, thither they flocked from far; For the love of the King and the kindness of the Queen were their guiding star. XXIII. How Kriemhild thought on Vengeance for her Wrongs {P. 189} Amid all this honour and glory--herein doth the bard sing true-- Dwelt they in love together till the seventh year onward drew. In the midst of the years unto Kriemhild was born a noble son. In the life of Etzel never had a brighter dayspring shone. Never she ceased from pleading till she won her love's reward That unto the font baptismal of the faith of Christ the Lord Brought was the child of Etzel, and Ortlieb they named the boy. Then all King Etzel's kingdom rejoiced with exceeding joy. In the selfsame paths of virtue that Helka had trodden erst The feet of the Lady Kriemhild paced day by day from the first; By Herrat, the stranger princess, in the ways of the land were they set, While her secret heart for Helka bore a burden of long regret. The son of the land and the stranger with one accord confessed That never had any kingdom of any king possessed More bounteous queen and gracious: true witness they held it of her. Such was her praise mid the Hunfolk still till the thirteenth year. Now when she marked how no man opposed him to her will-- Even so unto wives of princes knights wont to bear them still-- And that twelve kings stood in her presence aye as the years passed on, On the pain and the wrong she brooded that was dealt to her years agone. She thought withal on the honour that of yore in the Niblung land Of right unto her was rendered, whereof had Hagen's hand Utterly despoiled her when Siegfried by him had been slain: And she pondered how she might compass that his wrong should become his bane:-- {P. 190} "Into this land could I but bring him, then might my vengeance betide!" She dreamed a dream, how that walking anear her, close at her side, Was Giselher her brother, and she kissed him again and again In slumber--what meant that vision was thereafter all too plain!