Through the Rhineland highways rode they on saddles with gold red-glowing; Great shields all splendour-blazoned, rich mantles lordly-flowing Went flashing up the city to that glorious festal-tide:-- Yea, men unhealed blithe-hearted looked forth on their knightly pride; Ay, the battle-stricken tossing on beds of pain all day Forgat how near to the shadow of bitter death they lay: For the sick and the fever-blasted love's lips forgot to sigh, So glad were they all for the dawning of the festal days so nigh; For they thought, "In such royal bounty shall we live and see good days!" There were murmurs of mirth unmeasured through all the city's ways; There were overflowings of gladness--more bliss no man hath beheld: High through the land of Gunther the tides of joyance swelled. All on a merry morning of Whitsuntide rode they, Those splendour-vestured chosen brave knights in long array, {P. 37} Five thousand men--nay, haply yet more, to the King's feast bound: To and fro were flashing the light jests, and the laughter echoed round. Now on this was the King still musing--thereof had he long been ware-- How the heart of the Netherland hero lay tangled in love's snare Spell-drawn unto his sister, whom yet he had ne'er looked on, The lady by whom all maidens were in loveliness outshone. (C) And he spake: "Now all give counsel, both kinsman and vassal true, What thing to make all-perfect this feast-tide shall we do, That no man may chide us for failing in aught in the coming days; For in sooth by our deeds men judge us at the last, to blame us or praise." Then the Lord of Metz, knight Ortwein, spake to that kingly host: "If thy festival with honour shall be crowned to the uttermost, Thou suffer thy guests to look on the maidens peerless-fair Whose praise through the land Burgundian is rumoured everywhere. Wherein is a man's heart-pleasure, and his eyes' most dear delight, Save in loveliness of a maiden, in the beauty of lady bright? Thou suffer then that thy sister before thy guests appear." Leapt the heart of many a hero that welcome word to hear. "Full fain will I heed thy counsel," was Gunther's answering word, And thereat were the hearts of all men exultation-stirred; And he spake to the Lady Uta, and to Kriemhild the lovely-eyed, To come with all their maidens to the King's high festal-tide. Then in the cedar-caskets for fair attire sought they, And unfolded the flashing splendour of royal-rich array, And the cloudy lace and the bracelets, whereof good store they had. So with loveliest adorning were the winsome maidens clad. There was many a young knight yearning that day in eager wise That he might be found well-pleasing in the high-born ladies' eyes. That hope would he not have bartered, no, not for a kingdom's fee. The fair forms unbeholden ere this it was joy to see. {P. 38}