Then spake King Gunther: "Lady, this will I tell:--we bear, For all our knightly courage, the burden of a care. We be minded to ride a-wooing to a strange land far away, And fain would we have for our journey exceeding goodly array." "Now seat thee, belovèd brother," that child of kings 'gan say, "And of this thing first instruct me, what fairest of fair ones be they Whom ye are so fain to be wooing in a strange king's far-off land." And therewith those chosen chieftains did the maiden take by the hand, And with these twain onward paced she, and seated them royally On splendour-gleaming couches--nought passing the truth tell I-- With imagery fair-fashioned with the red gold threads entwined: Of a truth, in that bower of ladies fair pleasure might they find! Flashes of swift love-lightning and of yearning of the heart, From the eyes of each unto other, well might they ofttimes dart! For shrined in his soul he bare her; she was more unto him than life, And ere long by noble service he won her to be his wife. Then spake that goodly war-king: "Belovèd sister mine, Our desire may be nowise accomplished saving with help of thine. We would fare forth pleasure-questing to the Lady Brunhild's land, And knights need fair arrayal that in presence of ladies stand." Then spake that Daughter of Princes: "Belovèd brother mine, If aught mine help may avail you to compass your design, Hereof have utter assurance, I am ready to bear my part. Yea, if another denied thee, it were pain unto Kriemhild's heart. O noble knight, it needs not that ye ask as in fear and doubt: What best ye bring soever in lordly wise tell out. Whatsoever may do you a pleasure, ready awaiteth mine aid, And with all mine heart I do it." So spake that winsome maid. {P. 49} "Our will is, sister belovèd, to array us in vesture fair, And we pray that thine own white fingers may this our apparel prepare. And let these thy maidens be heedful that each man be arrayed like a king; For no gainsaying shall turn us from this our journeying."