Thence hasted him the Margrave to where in the Ladies’ Bower Were sitting his wife and his daughter: unto these in the selfsame hour
Told he the joyful tidings that but now had gladdened his ear,
That the brethren of her Lady and Queen to their halls drew near.
“Now therefore, O my belovèd,” spake Rüdiger earnestly,
“Graciously shalt thou receive them, these noble princes three,
When they and their train come hither as they fare unto Etzel’s court.
And Hagen, Gunther’s liegeman, shalt thou greet in friendly sort.
With these cometh also another, and Dankwart he hath to name,
And another withal, named Volker, of knightly honour and fame.
Upon these six thou and my daughter shall the greeting-kiss bestow,
And the grace of courteous kindness unto all the knights shall ye show.”
All this did the ladies promise, and nothing loth were they.
Then sought they out of the coffers their goodliest array,
That so they might greet the warriors in worthy bravery.
So with eager haste they bestirred them, those ladies fair to see.
{p. 226}
Of false-feigned bloom of roses on their cheeks was little enow;
But shining golden chaplets they bare upon each white brow
Fashioned as rich-wrought garlands, that so their braided hair
By the wind might not be ruffled: all dainty and fresh they were.
In the labours of women busied those courtly dames leave we,
The while went swiftly riding far over the river-lea
Rüdiger’s friends and kinsmen, till they spied that princely band;
Then heartiest welcome they gave them into the Margrave’s land.
So when to the castle the Margrave beheld that company ride,
How blithely hailing their presence the eager Rüdiger cried,
“Welcome to me, ye princes, and all in your vassal-train!
Here in mine own fair country I behold you exceeding fain.”
Then bowed them to him the heroes in friendship and faith unfeigned.
Well proved he with what gladness by their host were they entertained.
Unto Hagen special greeting, as a friend known long agone,
He gave, and withal unto Volker, Burgundia’s hero-son.
Dankwart withal he greeted; then spake that valiant thane:
“If thou care for us here in thy castle, who then will see to our train,
Unto all the array which hath followed from Worms beyond the Rhine?”
Straightway answered the Margrave: “Put by this fear of thine;
For all thy vassal-companions, and what possessions soe’er
Ye have brought into this my country—steeds, silver, and raiment fair—
I will cause them to have such warding that nought therefrom shall be lost.
By a single spur no poorer shall be any man of your host.
Pitch the pavilions therefore, ye squires, on yonder lea.
Whatsoe’er from your store shall be missing shall be all made good by me.
Cast off the bit and bridle, and let the steeds range wide.”
Never had men such welcome from any host beside!
Glad were the guests when they heard it. So then when his bidding was done,
And the lords rode thence to the castle, the squires all one after one
Stretched them at ease on the greensward. Sweet rest at last had they:
Nought like it before nor after found they in all the way.
{p. 227}
To the front of the castle-gateway did the noble Margravine haste
With her beauteous daughter; and many a lady lovely-faced
Upon this side and that was standing, and many a winsome maid
In carcanet and bracelet and queenly apparel arrayed.
Gleamed many a precious gemstone casting afar its sheen
Forth of their costly vesture—ah, fair were they to be seen!
Forward the guests came riding; from selle sprang they to the earth,—
What knightly grace and courteous showed they of Burgundian birth!
There were six-and-thirty maidens, and many a dame beside.
Fair to all heart’s desiring were the women lovely-eyed
That with many a valiant warrior to meet the strangers came:
Yea, fairest greeting was tendered of noble damsel and dame.
Then the Margravine welcomed the princes with the kiss of courtesy,
The like did also her daughter. Now Hagen stood thereby,
And her father bade her kiss him: but the maiden looked upon him,
And fain would she have refrained her, for his favour was passing grim.
Yet as their host her father commanded needs must she do:
But came and went her colour, she was pale and red of hue.
Thereafter Dankwart kissed she, and the lord of the viol-string,
For his might and his valour won him the greeting due to a king.
Then, to usher him into the castle, the maiden stretched her hand
Unto Giselher the courteous, the Prince of Burgundia-land.
And the hand of the valiant Gunther the Margravine hath ta’en.
So blithely into the castle with the heroes passed these twain.
The host gave hand unto Gernot: to the great hall so they came.
There sat they down on the high-seats, brave knight and comely dame.
Then poured they the wine of welcome, and bare to the guests all round.
Never more gracious greeting have heroes-errant found!
With eyes of admiration looked many a warrior there
On the damsel, Rüdiger’s daughter, for the maiden was passing fair.
In his heart did many a good knight her loveliness embrace:
Well might they, her queenly spirit made a splendour of her face.
{p. 228}
Ah, they might dream as they listed!—’twas a dream no morn should fulfil!
Hither and thither the glances of the heroes wandered still
To the faces and forms of maidens and of dames that thronged the hall.
But the heart of the noble minstrel warmed to their host above all.
Then was the company sundered: the knights and the dames straightway
Passed into several feast-halls, as the wont of the land was aye.
In the great hall of the castle for the knights were the tables arrayed,
And there to the friends from a far land was eager service paid.
For a grace to her guests Burgundian the noble Margravine
Sat in their midst at the table; but there was her child not seen,
For apart she abode with the maidens, as the land’s wont was from of old;
And the brave knights sighed for the beauty they might no longer behold.
So when with the meats and the wine-cup the guests were satisfied,
Back to the feast-hall led they the ladies lovely-eyed.
Then a murmur of admiration and of worship from all men broke,
And chiefly the valiant Volker the praise of beauty spoke;
For that same viol-minstrel spake freely and openly:
“O noble Lord of the Marches, God hath bestowed upon thee
All gifts of his gracious bounty: he hath given to thee for wife
A lady exceeding lovely, he hath crowned with bliss thy life.
Now if I were the heir to a kingdom,” that viol-minstrel said,
“And if I bare crown and sceptre, then would I choose to wed
None other than thy fair daughter—in all sincerity
I speak:—she is lovely to look on, noble and good is she.”
But the Margrave spake in answer: “How might it befall, this thing,
That my daughter should be the chosen and the heart’s delight of a king?
Here I and my wife be homeless, nor demesne nor castle we own:
No lands can we give for her portion—what availeth beauty alone?”
Answered and spake to him Gernot, the royal-natured knight:
“Might I choose for my bride a maiden in whom my soul should delight,
Such wife as she should gladden ever mine heart and mine eyes.”
Spake Hagen withal and answered in knightly-courteous wise:
{p. 229}
“For my young lord Giselher’s spousals a fitting time were this:
And of such right noble lineage the child of the Margrave is,
That with joy would we render her homage, I and his liegemen all,
When crowned mid the folk Burgundian she paceth in purple and pall.”
Good in the eyes of the Margrave was the word of the princes found,
And sweet in the ears of Gotlind did the counsel of Hagen sound.
So of one accord were the heroes that the noble Giselher
Should take to wife that maiden—meet bride for a king she were!
Who may withstand the issue that is doomed by fate to befall?
They summoned the Margrave’s daughter to appear before them in hall:
Then sware the father to give him the lovely damsel to wife,
And the Prince for his part hath pledged him to cherish her all his life.
To the maiden the Kings for her portion allotted castles and land;
And with oaths of confirmation by the noble Gunther’s hand
Was it sealed unto her, and by Gernot, that all should so be done.
Then spake her father: “Albeit castles have I none,
And I can but loyally prove me your friend for evermore,
Yet shall my daughter’s dower be silver and gold good store
So much as a hundred sumpters fully laden may bear,
That his kin may with honour content them with the bride of Giselher.”
Into the midst of a circle led they the plighted twain
After the ancient custom. Full many a strong young thane
Stood there and gazed upon them with laughter-litten eyes,
Thinking such thoughts as ever in young hearts wont to rise.
So then when her kin put question unto the winsome maid—
“Wilt thou take this knight to thine husband?” awhile was she loth and afraid:
Yet her heart within her was pleading for him, that goodly one;
But for shame she hung on her answer, as many a maiden hath done.
Then Rüdiger her father spake saying, “Answer yea,
And gladly for husband take him.” How swiftly did he straightway
With loving white hands clasping to his heart his belovèd press;
Even Giselh............