Till nine full days were accomplished, they constrained them there to abide, Till the eager knights uplifted a voice of complaining, and cried: "Will ye aye withhold us from riding back to our land at all?" Then to a council did Siegfried his friends and his kinsmen call. He prayed them to give their counsel, should he go to the Rhine or forbear: "Gunther, my fair Queen's brother, entreateth me to fare To the land where he and his brethren a mighty feast will array; And fain would I go, but his kingdom is exceeding far away. And they make request that Kriemhild shall thitherward fare with me. Give counsel, friends and kinsmen, shall this her journey be? Were it but to lead through kingdoms thrice ten a warrior-band, Glad help and willing service should they have of Siegfried's hand." Unto him did the knights make answer: "If thy will and thy pleasure it is To journey to this high feast-tide, our rede unto thee is this: With good knights twice five hundred hence shalt thou ride to the Rhine, So through all thy stay in Burgundia shall royal honour be thine." Then spake the old king Siegmund, erewhile the Netherland's Lord: "Wouldst thou to a feast-tide, and tellest to me thereof no word! Even I will be your companion, if this content you well, And thanes of my train a hundred your guard-array shall swell." "If thou, O father beloved, wilt ride in our company," Made answer Siegfried the dauntless, "a joy shall it be unto me. Ere twelve days have passed over, I ride forth out of our land." Then gave they horses and raiment unto all that should be of their band. When therefore set on the journey was the heart of that king of men, They suffered the eager envoys to ride thence homeward again; And he charged them to say to the brethren of Kriemhild, by Rhine-river side, That Siegfried joyful-hearted would come to their festival-tide. Siegfried the hero and Kriemhild, as telleth the minstrel's tale, So laded with presents the heralds, that their own steeds could not avail To bear all the guerdon homeward, so wealthy a lord was he: So they drove it on sumpter-horses, journeying joyfully. {P. 104} To their people was raiment given by Siegfried and Siegmund his sire; And Eckwart, Lord of the Marches, bade seek out splendid attire For the ladies of Kriemhild, the richest vesture that might be found Or be won by diligent searching in all the land around. Goodly saddles and bucklers they bade the craftsmen prepare For the noble knights and ladies that with him were bidden to fare. Nought lacked they; all that they asked for was given with open hand. So brought he guests most princely to his friends in the far-off land.