ow we sate together, when I
first became thy wife! She may with honor love bold Siegfried."

She besought so long, till the king did speak: "Now know that I have
never seen more welcome guests. Ye need but beg me gently. I will send
my envoys for the twain, that they may come to see us to the Rhine."

Then spake the queen: "Pray tell me then, when ye are willed to send for
them, or in what time our dear kinsmen shall come into the land. Give me
also to know whom ye will send thither."

"That will I," said the prince. "I will let thirty of my men ride
thither."

He had these come before him and bade them carry tidings to Siegfried's
land. To their delight Brunhild did give them full lordly vesture.

Then spake the king: "Ye knights must say from me all that I bid you to
mighty Siegfried and the sister of mine; this must ye not conceal: that
no one in the world doth love them more, and beg them both to come to
us to the Rhine. For this I and my lady will be ever at your service. At
the next Midsummer's Day shall he and his men gaze upon many here, who
would fain do them great honor. Give to the king Siegmund my greetings,
and say that I and my kinsmen be still his friends, and tell my sister,
too, that she fail not to ride to see her kin. Never did feasting beseem
her better."

Brunhild and Uta and whatever ladies were found at court all commended
their service to the lovely dames and the many valiant men in
Siegfried's land. With the consent of the kinsmen of the king the
messengers set forth. They rode as wandering knights; their 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
sen