As touching the thanes Burgundian not so doth the matter stand: For the escort-royal homeward these may no king disdain. Let my loving brethren give me of these for my princely train." {P. 95} Answered and spake Lord Gernot: "Whomsoever thou wilt, take thou. Thou shalt find here many that gladly will ride with thee, I trow. There be good knights thirty hundred; take thee a thousand of these For thy palace-retainers." Kriemhild 'gan send forth messages Unto Hagen of Troneg and Ortwein, and asked that mighty twain If they and their kinsmen accepted Kriemhild for suzerain. But an answer of scornful anger from Hagen her message won: "Unto no one on earth can Gunther pass us as chattels on! Let other escort-vassals with you on your journey go. The Law of the Men of Troneg full well by this should ye know: We be bound to abide with our liege-lord the King in hall and field, And to them which have had our homage, our homage ever to yield." So they spake no more of the matter, but they dight them for the way; And Kriemhild took for escort of her noble palace-array Two-and-thirty maidens, and of knights five hundred men; And Eckwart Lord of the Marches went forth with Kriemhild then. All these took leave of their people, from the henchman unto the knight, The stately dame and the handmaid, even as was meet and right: With manifold clasping and kissing was wrought that sundering. So fared they forth blithe-hearted from the land of Gunther the King. Far on the way with them kinsfolk for friendship and honour fared. Unto Burgundy's uttermost marches for their resting was lodging prepared Wheresoe'er in the land of Gunther they chose to abide for the night. Therewithal to the old king Siegmund were messengers sent forthright, To bear unto him the tidings and to Siegelind the Queen That his son and the Daughter of Uta full soon at his gates should be seen, Kriemhild the Fair, from the City of Worms, from the Rhine-stronghold. Never could welcomer tidings in the ears of these be told. "Happy am I," cried Siegmund, "that I live to see the day When in this land Kriemhild the Lovely shall be crowned for royal sway! Henceforth shall my father's kingdom yet higher in honour stand, For now shall my son, my Siegfried, himself be king of the land." {P. 96} Then Siegelind gave to the heralds for vesture the velvet red And the massy gold and the silver, their guerdon for tidings sped. She joyed beyond words for the story, she had gotten her heart's desire. And all her palace-maidens made ready their fairest attire. Each told unto other what escort drew with Siegfried near; And they gave command that the craftsmen should the ranks of the high-seats rear Wherefrom all friends should behold him crowned their king ere long. Then rode forth onward to meet them King Siegmund's vassal-throng.