Now so soon as the guests of Gunther had wended all away, Then spake the Son of Siegmund unto them of his vassal-array:
“Time is it we made us ready to our fatherland to ride.”
Right glad to hear that saying was the heart of Kriemhild the bride.
Then spake she unto her husband: “How soon is thy mind to depart?
So hastily hence to be faring is nowise after mine heart,
Ere my brethren divide me my portion of the land of Burgundy.”
But vexed was the soul of Siegfried that such her desire should be.
Then came unto him the Princes, and with one voice spake all three:
“We do thee to wit, Lord Siegfried, that for aye are we bound unto thee
In loyalty of service, so long as life shall remain.”
Unto this their gracious tender low bowed that royal thane.
“We will give thee withal thy portion,” the young lord Giselher cried,
“Of all that we hold in possession, of our castles and manors wide,
And of all this mighty kingdom the rule whereof we claim.
Yea, thou receivest with Kriemhild thine own full share of the same.”
Made answer then to the Princes the son of Siegmund the King,
When he heard the speech of their kindness and their royal offering:
“God seal unto you by His blessing your heritage all your life,
And therewithal its people: but this my beloved wife,
No need hath she of the portion that ye so freely would give.
Where she shall reign a crowned queen—if to see that day we live—
There shall she be far richer than any the wide world through.
For all that beside ye have proffered I am ever beholden to you.”
Then answered the Lady Kriemhild: “Though lightly thou reck of my land,
As touching the thanes Burgundian not so doth the matter stand:
For the escort-royal homeward these may no king disdain.
Let my loving brethren give me of these for my princely train.”
{p. 95}
Answered and spake Lord Gernot: “Whomsoever thou wilt, take thou.
Thou shalt find here many that gladly will ride with thee, I trow.
There be good knights thirty hundred; take thee a thousand of these
For thy palace-retainers.” Kriemhild ’gan send forth messages
Unto Hagen of Troneg and Ortwein, and asked that mighty twain
If they and their kinsmen accepted Kriemhild for suzerain.
But an answer of scornful anger from Hagen her message won:
“Unto no one on earth can Gunther pass us as chattels on!
Let other escort-vassals with you on your journey go.
The Law of the Men of Troneg full well by this should ye know:
We be bound to abide with our liege-lord the King in hall and field,
And to them which have had our homage, our homage ever to yield.”
So they spake no more of the matter, but they dight them for the way;
And Kriemhild took for escort of her noble palace-array
Two-and-thirty maidens, and of knights five hundred men;
And Eckwart Lord of the Marches went forth with Kriemhild then.
All these took leave of their people, from the henchman unto the knight,
The stately dame and the handmaid, even as was meet and right:
With manifold clasping and kissing was wrought that sundering.
So fared they forth blithe-hearted from the land of Gunther the King.
Far on the way with them kinsfolk for friendship and honour fared.
Unto Burgundy’s uttermost marches for their resting was lodging prepared
Wheresoe’er in the land of Gunther they chose to abide for the night.
Therewithal to the old king Siegmund were messengers sent forthright,
To bear unto him the tidings and to Siegelind the Queen
That his son and the Daughter of Uta full soon at his gates should be seen,
Kriemhild the Fair, from the City of Worms, from the Rhine-stronghold.
Never could welcomer tidings in the ears of these be told.
“Happy am I,” cried Siegmund, “that I live to see the day
When in this land Kriemhild the Lovely shall be crowned for royal sway!
Henceforth shall my father’s kingdom yet higher in honour stand,
For now shall my son, my Siegfried, himself be king of the land.”
{p. 96}
Then Siegelind gave to the heralds for vesture the velvet red
And the massy gold and the silver, their guerdon for tidings sped.
She joyed beyond words for the story, she had gotten her heart’s desire.
And all her palace-maidens made ready their fairest attire.
Each told unto other what escort drew with Siegfried near;
And they gave command that the craftsmen should the ranks of the high-seats rear
Wherefrom all friends should behold him crowned their king ere long.
Then rode forth onward to meet them King Siegmund’s vass............