horses and their trappings had now been brought them. Then they voided the land, for they had haste of the journey, whither they would fare. The king bade guard the messengers well with convoys. In three weeks they came riding into the land, to Nibelung’s castle, in the marches of Norway,[1] whither they were sent. Here they found the knight. The mounts of the messengers were weary from the lengthy way.
Both Siegfried and Kriemhild were then told that knights were come, who wore such clothes as men were wont to wear at Burgundy. She sprang from a couch on which she lay to rest and bade a maiden hie her to the window. In the court she saw bold Gere standing, him and the fellowship that had been sent thither. What joyful things she there found against her sorrow of heart! She spake to the king: “Now behold where they stand, who walk in the court with the sturdy Gere, whom my brother sendeth us adown the Rhine.”
Spake Then the valiant Siegfried: “They be welcome to us.”
All the courtiers ran to where one saw them. Each of them in turn then spake full kindly, as best he could to the envoys. Siegmund, the lord, was right blithe of their coming. Then Gere and his men were lodged and men bade take their steeds in charge. The messengers then went hence to where Lord Siegfried sate by Kriemhild. This they did, for they had leave to go to court. The host and his lady rose from their seats at once and greeted well Gere of the Burgundian land with his fellowship, Gunther’s liegemen. One bade the mighty Gere go and sit him down.
“Permit us first to give our message, afore we take
- ↑ Norway. The interpolated character of the adventures XI to XIII, which are not found in the earlier versions, is shown by the confusion in the location of Siegfried’s court. The poet has forgotten that Xanten is his capital, and locates it in Norway. No mention is made, however, of the messengers crossing the sea; on the contrary, Kriemhild speaks of their being sent down the Rhine.
