Brunhild withal, and Uta, yea, every high-born dame Unto the land of Siegfried fair greeting sent by name To their kinsfolk and their acquaintance, fair lady and valiant knight. So, sped by King and Council, they hasted thence forthright; For they stood all girt for the journey, seeing all things ready to hand Had they, their horses, their raiment: so rode they forth of the land. On to the goal they hasted whereunto their hearts were bent. Strong escort on that wayfaring to guard them the King had sent. So it was, on the twelfth day's dawning they came to the Niblung land, To the fencèd city, whither they were sent by the King's command. Afar on the marches of Norway that hero-thane found they: And by this were steed and rider forwearied with all the way. Unto Siegfried and unto Kriemhild were tidings borne with speed That knights were come to their castle arrayed in suchlike weed As folk in the land Burgundian were wont to wear alway. Then leapt from the couch that lady, where resting yet she lay; And a certain one of her handmaids she bade to the casement go, Who beheld the valiant Gere in the court stand therebelow, Even him and his fellow-farers which thither from far had sped. All heart-ache of the exile like a dream at the tidings fled. And she cried aloud unto Siegfried: "Behold how there they wait, These that with Gere the stalwart have ridden through our gate, {P. 101} These whom my brother Gunther unto us down Rhine-flood sends!" Made answer Siegfried the mighty, "Welcome to us be our friends!" Straightway beholding them hasted to greet them squire and knight, And this one and that with welcome hailed them, and, each as he might, They paid to the heralds royal all loving courtesies. Yea, also the old King Siegmund rejoiced for the coming of these. So when they had given fair lodging to Gere and all his men, And had stabled in stall their horses, they led those messengers then To the place where sat King Siegfried with Kriemhild at his side, Even the Hall of the Presence, when his pleasure was signified. Then the King and the Queen from their high-seats rose up at their entering-in, And they graciously greeted the envoys of their far Burgundian kin, Even these and their fellow-farers, King Gunther's liegemen all, And entreated Gere the noble, "Sit thou with us in the hall." "Let us first of our message acquit us, ere we sit down to rest: So long let him stand in thy presence, thy travel-weary guest; And so shall the word be spoken which is sent unto you of the King, Of Gunther, and of Queen Brunhild. In bliss be they prospering. From the Lady Uta thy mother, O Queen, have we also a word, And from Giselher the stripling, and from Gernot the royal lord, And from all your nearest kinsfolk: hither have these sent us From Burgundia-land with greetings exceeding courteous."