1077.
And when King Siegmund also was ready forth to ride,
The kinsmen of Kriemhilda besought her to abide:
Her place was with her mother, and there to stay ought she.
Then spake the noble lady: “Nay, that can hardly be!
1078.
“How could I bear for ever him with these eyes to see,
Through whom to me, poor woman, hath come such misery?”
Then Giselher, the youthful, made answer: “Sister dear,
For duty’s sake now shouldst thou bide with thy mother here.
1079.
“Of them who have distress’d thee, and brought thee to despair,
Thou dost require no service; my fortune thou shalt share.”
But to the knight she answer’d: “Nay, this can never be;
I needs must die of sorrow if I should Hagen see.”
1080.
“I see that doth not happen, my sister dear,” quoth he,
“With Giselher thy brother in safety shouldst thou be;
Amends will I make to thee, for thy dear husband’s death.”
Then spake the poor forlorn one: “True need Kriemhilda hath!”
1081.
When this so kindly offer to her the young man made,
Uté and also Gernot fell likewise to persuade,
With all her faithful kinsfolk: they begged her not to go:
For amongst Siegfried’s kindred not many did she know.
1082.
“They are all strangers to thee,” Gernot began to say;
“So strong is no man living but he must die one day.
Bethink thee then, dear sister, and comfort thy sad mood;
Stay with thy friends and kinsmen: it will be for thy good.”
