em them. Men
told who was to come with Siegfried to the land. Anon they bade seats be
raised, where he should walk crowned before his friends. King Siegmund's
liegemen then rode forth to meet him. Hath any been ever better greeted
than the famous hero in Siegmund's land, I know not. Siegelind, the
fair, rode forth to meet Kriemhild with many a comely dame (lusty
knights did follow on behind), a full day's journey, till one espied the
guests. Home-folk and the strangers had little easement till they were
come to a spacious castle, hight Xanten, (2) where they later reigned.

Smilingly Siegelind and Siegmund kissed Kriemhild many times for joy and
Siegfried, too; their sorrow was taken from them. All their fellowship
received great welcome. One bade now bring the guests to Siegmund's
hall, and lifted the fair young maids down from the palfreys. Many a
knight gan serve the comely dames with zeal. However great the feasting
at the Rhine was known to be, here one gave the heroes much better robes
than they had worn in all their days. Of their splender great marvels
might be told. When now they sate in lofty honors and had enow of all,
what gold-hued clothes their courtiers wore with precious stones well
worked thereon! Thus did Siegelind, the noble queen, purvey them well.

Then to his friends Lord Siegmund spake: "I do all Siegfried's kin
to wit, that he shall wear my crown before these knights." Those of
Netherland heard full fain the tale. He gave his son the crown, the
cognizance, (3) and lands, so that he then was master of them all. When
that men went to law and Siegfried uttered judgment, that was done in
such a wise that men feared sore fair Kriemhild's husband.

In these high honors Siegfried lived, of a truth, and judged as king,
till the tenth year was come, when his fair lady bare a son. This was
come to pass after the wish of the kinsmen of the king. They hastened
to baptize and name him Gunther for his uncle; nor had he need to be
ashamed of this. Should he grow like to his kinsman, he would fare full
well. They brought him up with care, as was but due. In these same times
the Lady Siegelind died, and men enow made wail when death bereft them
of her. Then the child of the noble Uta held withal the power over the
lands, which well beseemed such high-born dames. (4)

Now also by the Rhine, as we hear tell, at mighty Gunther's court, in
the Burgundian land, Brunhild, the fair, had born a son. For the hero's
sak