The saddles and the war-shields, and all the goodly gear Wherewithal in the land of King Etzel they purposed to appear, By this were fully ready for many a valiant thane. Then at last to the presence of Gunther they summoned the minstrels twain. When the messengers stood before him, Lord Gernot spake to them thus: "The King unto that consenteth which Etzel asketh of us. We will come, and that right gladly, unto his festal tide, And to see the face of our sister: thereof be ye certified." Then spake unto them King Gunther: "This know ye so as to say, When beginneth the high-tide, or to tell us on what day The King will look for our coming?" Schwemmel made answer again: "At the next Mid-summer season; without fail shall it be then." Then the King to the envoys granted what had not aforetime been, That, if they would fain have audience of the Lady Brunhild the Queen, Speech of her might be granted unto them by his consent. But Volker set him to thwart them--for this was the Queen's intent. "As touching the Lady Brunhild, as yet it doth not please The Queen," that noble baron answered, "to look upon these. Wait ye till the morrow morning: before her then shall ye come." Then trusted they to behold her, but again were they hindered therefrom. Then commanded the King, of his favour to the envoys of Hunland's king, And of his royal bounty, that on broad shields men should bring Gold from his treasure-chamber--sooth, great store lay therein: Rich gifts moreover were given unto them by his friends and his kin. With Gere and Ortwein, the Princes Gernot and Giselher Showed unto all beholders how open of hand they were; {P. 203} For unto the herald-minstrels such rich gifts offered they That for dread of their King they dared not but say the givers nay. For the messenger-minstrel Werber unto Gunther the King replied: "Lord King, e'en suffer thy presents here in thy land to abide. We may not carry them with us, for my Lord hath forbidden us this, Even accepting of presents--and little we need them, I wis." Then the Lord of the Rhine was angered, for he held it discourtesy That these should reject the bounty of so great a King as he, So that of force they accepted his gold and raiment at last, And homeward they needs must bear them when to Etzel's land they passed. Fain were they to see Queen Uta, ere homeward they should fare; Wherefore brought were the minstrels by the young prince Giselher To the presence of his mother; and she charged them with this word: "For the honour rendered my daughter mine heart is gladness-stirred." Then for the sake of Kriemhild and the love that to her she bare, The old Queen gave commandment that gold and girdles fair Be given to those two heralds, yea also for Etzel's sake. For the true heart of the giver those gifts they needs must take.