759.
“They also bid Kriemhilda to go along with me.
Now counsel me, dear kinsmen, how thither come shall she?
If I through thirty kingdoms my men, for them, must lead,
Still Siegfried’s hand to serve them must ready be indeed.”
760.
Then spake his chiefs unto him: “If you’ve a mind unto
The journey to this hightide, we’ll counsel what to do:
You with a thousand warriors unto the Rhine shall ride;
So may you with all honour in Burgundy abide.”
761.
Then spake the noble Siegmund, of Netherland the lord:
“Will ye unto this feasting, and tell me not a word?
An if it will not shame you I’ll ride along with you;
I’ll take a hundred swordsmen to swell your retinue.”
762.
“Wilt thou in sooth ride with us, my own good father dear?”
Exclaimed the gallant Siegfried: “right gladly that I hear.
Before twelve days are over my fatherland I’ll leave.”
To all who did desire them they steeds and raiment gave.
763.
Now that the noble ruler was minded soon to start,
The heralds swift were bidden straight homewards to depart,
And unto his wife’s kinsmen upon the Rhine to say,
That he would very gladly with them keep holyday.
764.
Both Siegfried and Kriemhilda, as doth the story say,
More gifts gave to the heralds than could be borne away
On their own horses homewards: a wealthy man was he!
Their sturdy beasts of burden they drove right merrily.
