So when with the meats and the wine-cup the guests were satisfied, Back to the feast-hall led they the ladies lovely-eyed. Then a murmur of admiration and of worship from all men broke, And chiefly the valiant Volker the praise of beauty spoke; For that same viol-minstrel spake freely and openly: "O noble Lord of the Marches, God hath bestowed upon thee All gifts of his gracious bounty: he hath given to thee for wife A lady exceeding lovely, he hath crowned with bliss thy life. Now if I were the heir to a kingdom," that viol-minstrel said, "And if I bare crown and sceptre, then would I choose to wed None other than thy fair daughter--in all sincerity I speak:--she is lovely to look on, noble and good is she." But the Margrave spake in answer: "How might it befall, this thing, That my daughter should be the chosen and the heart's delight of a king? Here I and my wife be homeless, nor demesne nor castle we own: No lands can we give for her portion--what availeth beauty alone?" Answered and spake to him Gernot, the royal-natured knight: "Might I choose for my bride a maiden in whom my soul should delight, Such wife as she should gladden ever mine heart and mine eyes." Spake Hagen withal and answered in knightly-courteous wise: {P. 229} "For my young lord Giselher's spousals a fitting time were this: And of such right noble lineage the child of the Margrave is, That with joy would we render her homage, I and his liegemen all, When crowned mid the folk Burgundian she paceth in purple and pall." Good in the eyes of the Margrave was the word of the princes found, And sweet in the ears of Gotlind did the counsel of Hagen sound. So of one accord were the heroes that the noble Giselher Should take to wife that maiden--meet bride for a king she were! Who may withstand the issue that is doomed by fate to befall? They summoned the Margrave's daughter to appear before them in hall: Then sware the father to give him the lovely damsel to wife, And the Prince for his part hath pledged him to cherish her all his life. To the maiden the Kings for her portion allotted castles and land; And with oaths of confirmation by the noble Gunther's hand Was it sealed unto her, and by Gernot, that all should so be done. Then spake her father: "Albeit castles have I none, And I can but loyally prove me your friend for evermore, Yet shall my daughter's dower be silver and gold good store So much as a hundred sumpters fully laden may bear, That his kin may with honour content them with the bride of Giselher."