The good knight spake: "Then will I go myself to my dear mother, if
perchance I can bring it to pass that her fair maids purvey us garments
which we may wear with honor before the high-born maid."
Hagen of Troneg spake then in lordly wise: "Wherefore will ye pray your
mother of such service? Let your sister hear what ye have in mind, and
she'll purvey you well for your journey to Brunhild's court."
Then sent he word to his sister, that he would fain see her, and Knight
Siegfried, too, sent word. Ere this happed the fair had clad her passing
well. That these brave men were coming, gave her little grief. Now were
her attendants, too, arrayed in seemly wise. The lordings came, and when
she heard the tale, from her seat she rose and walked in courtly wise to
greet the noble stranger and her brother, too.
"Welcome be my brother and his comrade. I'd gladly know," so spake the
maid, "what ye lords desire, sith ye be thus come to court. Pray let me
hear how it standeth with you noble knights."
Then spake king Gunther: "My lady, I'll tell you now. Maugre our lofty
mood, yet have we mickle care. We would ride a-wooing far into foreign
lands, and for this journey we have need of costly robes."
"Now sit you down, dear brother," spake the royal maid, "and let me hear
aright who these ladies be whom ye fain would woo in the lands of other
kings."
By the hand the lady took the chosen knights and with the twain she
walked to where she sate afore upon a couch, worked, as well I wot, with
dainty figures embossed in gold. There might they have fair pastime
with the ladies. Friendly glances and kindly looks passed now full oft
between the twain. In his heart he bare her, she was dear to him as
life. In after days fair Kriemhild became strong Siegfried's wife.
Then spake the mighty king: "Dear sister mine, without thy help it may
not be. We would go for knightly pastime to Brunhild's land, and have
need of princely garb to wear before the dames."
Then the noble maiden answered: "Dear brother mine, I do you now to wit,
that whatever need ye have of help of mine, that stand I ready to give.
Should any deny you aught, 't would please Kriemhild but ill. Most noble
knights, beseech me not with such concern, but order me with lordly
air to do whatso ye list. I stand at your bidding and will do it with a
will." So spake the winsome maid.
"We would fain, dear sister, wear good attire, and this your noble hand
shall help to choose. Your maidens then must make it fit us, for there
be no help against this journey." Then spake the princess: "Now mark ye
what I say. Silks I have myself; see ye that men do bring us jewels upon
the shields and thus we'll work the clothes. Gunther and Siegfried, too,
gave glad assent.
"Who are the comrades," spake the queen, "who shall fare with you thus
clad to court?"
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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