Let us suffer those heralds onward to ride:—let the minstrel sing How rode that Daughter of Princes through the land far-journeying,
And where at the last she parted from Gernot and Giselher.
In loyalty and honour had these twain holpen her.
When they came where looks over Danube Bergen’s citadel,
Then at the last those heroes must bid the Queen farewell,
For that backward unto the Rhineland now must they turn the rein.
When the near and dear so parted could none from tears refrain.
Then Giselher to his sister spake one parting word:
“Sister, if ever thou needest help of my counsel or sword,
What peril soever threatens, send thou word unto me;
Into the land of Etzel will I straightway ride unto thee.”
Then kissed she the lips of her kinsfolk, and they parted in love and grief;
And with kindly word and with hand-clasp friend of friend took leave,
The valiant men of Burgundia and Rüdiger’s cavalcade.
Then with the Queen rode onward many a high-born maid,
Even four and a hundred fair ones: in bright hues rainbow-dyed
Glistened their lovely vesture: broad shields upon either side
Went flashing down the highways on the arms of the Hun-queen’s train.
Then turned, after fair leave-taking, Volker the valiant thane.
Into the land of Bavaria over the Danube they won,
And fast and far went the tidings of the long lines riding on,
And the many unknown faces. Where stand a cloister’s walls,
And where the broad Inn-river into the Danube falls,
There in the city of Passau a great prince-bishop abode.
From their homes, yea, forth from the palace the folk streamed out to the road
{p. 177}
Whereby those guests through Bavaria-land came riding in.
There met was Kriemhild the lovely by the bishop Pilgerin.
Glad were the knights Bavarian to look on that winsome sight,
That Queen of Beauty followed by many a maiden bright;
And with loving glances and longing those daughters of earls did they greet.
Fair harbourage full swiftly was found for guests so sweet.
(C) At Pledeling resting-places were prepared for the slumber-tide.
All people came forth riding to meet them from every side;
And they gave to them whatso they needed with willing hands and free
There and elsewhere, and they took it with princely courtesy.
Back rode the bishop to Passau with his niece the royal dame;
And so soon as unto the burghers of the city the tidings came,
That the child of their prince’s sister, Kriemhild the Queen, drew nigh,
The merchants greeted her entry with stately pageantry.
Now the bishop had looked that a little there should his guests stay on;
But Eckwart, Lord of the Marches, said: “Nay, it may nowise be done.
We needs must still ride onward to the land of Rüdiger:
Many knights unto whom our coming hath been heralded wait for us there.”
Now by this known too unto Gotlind the fair one the tidings were;
And with diligent haste did the lady and her high-born daughter prepare:
For a message had Rüdiger sent her that he held it a seemly thing
That to cheer the heart of Kriemhild she should ride to meet her, and bring
With her for a guard of honour all her vassal-array
So far as Ems the river. Then hasted she to obey;
And straightway thronged were the highways with folk that onward pressed,
Afoot, or riding, eager to meet that queenly guest.
Now was the Queen in her journey come unto Everding.
They had passed through the land Bavarian unvexed of the plundering
Of the robber barons which haunted the ways, as their wont was aye.
Well might they have done a mischief unto so rich a prey;
But Rüdiger the noble from peril warded them still:
With a thousand knights, yea, haply yet more, had he fenced them from ill.
{p. 178}
And now was the Lady Gotlind, Rüdiger’s wife, at hand,
And with her a host of good knights, a great and gallant band.
Now when they had crossed Traun-river by Ems, in the river-mead green,
There many a booth fair-builded and many a tent was seen
Wherein those guests through the night-tide sweet rest and slumber should win,
Ready-reared at the Margrave’s charges to honour his guests therein.
From the palace prepared for the lodging of those guests Gotlind the fair
Rode forward to meet her Lady: along the highways were
Long lines of goodly horses with jingling bridle-reins:—
Fair welcome! Fain was the Margrave of all their loving pains.
The knights that from eastward and westward along the highway rode
Spurred gallantly forth to the meeting: brave horsemanship they showed,
Those charging ranks of heroes of many a fair maid seen!
In sooth was the good knights’ service well-pleasing to the Queen.
When clashed Lord Rüdiger’s vassals with the guests in the mimic war,
Many a splintered lance-shaft went upward soaring far
From the hands of the gallant heroes as they tilted in knightly wise;
And ladies’ smiles were their guerdon, and the light in ladies’ eyes.
Now stayed is the tide of combat, and the laughing warriors greet
Right courteously the strangers; and forward riding, to meet
The Queen, the glorious Kriemhild, doth the Lady Gotlind go.
Now knights that in ladies’ service be perfect, have work enow.
To meet and to greet his lady rode on Bechlaren’s Lord:
Right glad was the noble Gotlind to hail the lost restored
Whole and unharmed from the Rhineland and from peril of the way.
Vanished her fear and her sorrow as a dream at the dawning of day.
So when she had given him welcome, “I pray thee light,” said he,
“On the grass with thy bower-maidens, all these which have followed thee.”
Then in knightly courtesy busy was many a high-born thane
Which waited with eager service on the ladies of her train.
{p. 179}
Then looked the Lady Kriemhild, and beheld the Margravine
Stand in the midst of her ladies. No further rode the Queen;
But she checked with bit and bridle the onward-pacing steed,
And she bade them from the saddle lift her to earth with speed.
Leading the child of his sister the princely bishop strode,
With Eckwart besid............