How King Etzel sent to Burgundy for Kriemhild

1143

In that same time when ended / was Lady Helke's life,
And that the monarch Etzel / did seek another wife,
To take a highborn widow / of the land of Burgundy
Hun his friends did counsel: / Lady Kriemhild hight was she.

1144

Since that was ended / the fair Helke's life,
Spake they: " Wilt thou ever / win for thee noble wife,
The highest and the fairest / that ever king did win,
Take to thee this same lady / that doughty Siegfried's spouse hath been. "

1145

Then spake the mighty monarch: / " How might that come to pass
Since that I am a heathen, / nor named with sign of cross?
The lady is a Christian, / thereto she'll ne'er agree.
Wrought must be a wonder, / if the thing may ever be. "

1146

Then spake again his warriors: / " She yet may do the same.
For sake of thy great power / and thy full lofty name
Shalt thou yet endeavor / such noble wife to gain.
To woo the stately lady / might each monarch high be fain. "

1147

Then spake the noble monarch: / " Who is 'mong men of mine,
That knoweth land and people / dwelling far by Rhine? "
Spake then of Bechelaren / the trusty Ruediger:
" I have known from childhood / the noble queen that dwelleth there.

1148

" And Gunther and Gernot, / the noble knights and good,
And hight the third is Giselher: / whatever any should
That standeth high in honor / and virtue, doth each one:
Eke from eld their fathers / have in like noble manner done. "

1149

Then spake again Etzel: / " Friend, now shalt thou tell,
If she within my country / crown might wear full well —
For be she fair of body / as hath been told to me,
My friends for this their counsel / shall ever full requited be. "

1150

" She likeneth in beauty / well my high lady,
Helke that was so stately. / Nor forsooth might be
In all this world a fairer / spouse of king soe'er.
Whom taketh she for wooer, / glad of heart and mind he were. "

1151

He spake: " Make trial, Ruediger, / as thou hold'st me dear.
And if by Lady Kriemhild / e'er I lie full near,
Therefor will I requite thee / as in best mode I may:
So hast thou then fulfilled / all my wish in fullest way.

1152

" Stores from out my treasure / I'll bid to thee to give,
That thou with thy companions / merry long shalt live,
Of steeds and rich apparel / what thou wilt have to share.
Thereof unto thy journey / I'll bid in measure full prepare. "

1153

Thereto did give him answer / the margrave Ruediger:
" Did I thy treasure covet / unworthy thing it were.
Gladly will I thy messenger / be unto the Rhine,
From my own store provided: / all have I e'en from hand of thine. "

1154

Then spake the mighty monarch: / " When now wilt thou fare
To seek the lovely lady? / God of thee have care
To keep thee on thy journey / and eke a wife to me.
Therein good fortune help me, / that she to us shall gracious be. "

1155

Then again spake Ruediger: / " Ere that this land we quit,
Must we first prepare us / arms and apparel fit,
That we may thus in honor / in royal presence stand.
To the Rhine I'll lead five hundred / warriors, a doughty band.

1156

" Wherever they in Burgundy / me and my men may see,
Shall they all and single / then confess of thee
That ne'er from any monarch / so many warriors went
As now to bear thy message / thou far unto the Rhine hast sent.

1157

" May it not, O mighty monarch, / thee from thy purpose move:
Erstwhile unto Siegfried / she gave her noble love,
Who scion is of Siegmund: / him thou here hast seen.
Worthy highest honor / verily the knight had been. "

1158

Then answered him King Etzel: / " Was she the warrior's wife,
So worthy was of honor / the noble prince in life,
That I the royal lady / therefor no whit despise.
'Tis her surpassing beauty / that shall be joy unto mine eyes. "

1159

Then further spake the margrave: / " Hear then what I do say:
After days four-and-twenty / shall we from hence away.
Tidings to Gotelinde / I'll send, my spouse full dear,
That I to Lady Kriemhild / myself will be thy messenger. "

1160

Away to Bechelaren / sent then Ruediger.
Both sad his spouse and joyous / was the news to hear.
He told how for the monarch / a wife he was to woo:
With love she well remembered / the fair Lady Helke too.

1161

When that the margravine / did the message hear,
In part 'twas sorrow to her, / and weep she must in fear
At having other mistress / than hers had been before.
To think on Lady Helke / did grieve her inmost heart full sore.

1162

Ruediger from Hunland / in seven days did part,
Whereat the monarch Etzel / merry was of heart.
When at Vienna city / all was ready for the way,
To begin the journey / might he longer not delay.