525.
Of women six and eighty along with her she took,
And eke a hundred maidens, who comely were in look.
Then they delay’d no longer,— they wearied to be gone;
But those they left behind them, these wept, ay, many a one!
526.
With seemly grace the lady fared from her fatherland;
She kissed her nearest kinsmen, who stood on either hand.
With kindliest leave-takings they came unto the shore;—
To her forefathers’ country the lady came no more!
527.
One heard of games of all kinds to pass the time away
And make the journey shorter: a hundred pastimes gay.
They had, too, for their voyage a right good sailing wind.
With merriment and laughter they left their land behind.
528.
Not once upon the journey did she embrace her lord:
Until they reached his palace their pleasure was defer’d.
At Worms they, in the castle, their wedding feast would hold;
Where they, ere long, with gladness came with their heroes bold.
ADVENTURE IX.—HOW SIEGFRIED WAS SENT TO WORMS.
529.
When they nine days had travel’d upon their homeward way,
Spake Hagen, lord of Tronjé: “Now hark to what I say!
We yet have sent no tidings to Worms upon the Rhine:
Your heralds should be, surely, in Burgundy long syne.”
