Rudeger should ride in seven days from Hungary; lusty and merry King
Etzel was at this. There in the town of Vienna men prepared their
weeds. Then might he no longer delay his journey. At Bechelaren Gotelind
awaited him; the young margravine, too, Rudeger's child, gladly saw her
father and his men. Many fair maids awaited them with joy. Ere the noble
Rudeger rode from the city of Vienna to Bechelaren, all their clothes
were placed upon the sumpters. They journeyed in such wise that not a
whit was taken from them.
When they were come to tho town of Bechelaren, the host full lovingly
bade lodge his fellowship and ease them well. The noble Gotelind saw
the host come gladly, as likewise his dear daughter did, the young
margravine. To her his coming could not be liefer. How fain she was to
see the heroes from the Hunnish land! With smiling mien the noble maiden
spake: "Now be my father and his men full welcome here."
Then great thanks were given to the young margravine by many a doughty
knight in courteous wise. Well wot Gotelind Sir Rudeger's mood. When at
night she lay close by his side, what kindly questions the margravine
put, whither the king of the Huns had sent him. He spake: "My Lady
Gotelind, I'll gladly make this known to thee. I must woo another
lady for my lord, sith that the fair Helca hath died. I will ride for
Kriemhild to the Rhine; she shall become a mighty queen here among the
Huns."
"Would to God," spake Gotelind, "an' that might hap, sith we do hear
such speech of her many honors, that she might perchance replace our
lady for us in our old age, and that we might be fain to let her wear
the crown in Hungary."
Then spake the margrave: "My love, ye must offer to those who are to
ride with me to the Rhine, your goods in loving wise. When heroes travel
richly, then are they of lofty mood."
She spake: "There be none that taketh gladly from my hand, to whom I
would not give what well beseemeth him, or ever ye and your men part
hence."
Quoth the margrave: "That doth like me well."
Ho, what rich cloths of silk were borne from their treasure chambers!
With enow of this the clothing of the noble warriors was busily lined
from the neck down to their spurs. Rudeger had chosen only men that
pleased him well.
On the seventh morning the host and his warriors rode forth from
Bechelaren. Weapons and clothes a plenty they took with them through the
Bavarian land. Seldom did men assail them on the highways for robbery's
sake, and within twelve days they reached the Rhine. Then might the
tidings not be hid; men told it to the king and to his liegemen, that
stranger guests were come. The host gan say, if any knew them, he should
tell him so. One saw their sumpters bear right heavy loads. 'Twas seen
that they were passing rich.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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