ights, ye men of Gunther. Sith now
Siegfried, my son, hath won Kriemhild to wife, one should see you more
often here in this our land, if ye would show your kinship."

They answered that they would gladly come, when so he would. Of their
weariness they were cased with joyous pastime. Men bade the messengers
be seated and brought them food, of which Siegfried had them given
great store. They must needs stay there full nine days, till at last
the doughty knights made plaint, that they durst not ride again to their
land.

Meantime king Siegfried had sent to fetch his friends; he asked them
what they counseled, whether or no they should to the Rhine. "My kinsman
Gunther and his kin have sent to fetch me for a feasting. Now I would
go full gladly, but that his land doth lie too far away. They beg
Kriemhild, too, that she journey with me. Now advise, dear friends, in
what manner she shall ride thither. Though I must harry for them through
thirty lands, yet would Siegfried's arm fain serve them there."

Then spake his warriors: "And ye be minded to journey to the feasting,
we will advise what ye must do. Ye should ride to the Rhine with a
thousand knights, then can ye stand with worship there in Burgundy
land."

Up spake then Lord Siegmund of Netherland: "Will ye to the feasting, why
make ye it not known to me? If ye scorn it not, I will ride thither with
you and will take a hundred knights, wherewith to swell your band."

"And will ye ride with us, dear father mine," quoth brave Siegfried,
"glad shall I be of that. Within a twelfth night I will quit my lands."

All who craved it were given steeds and vesture, too.

Since now the noble king was minded for the journey, men bade the good
and speedy envoys ride again. He sent word to his wife's kindred on
the Rhine, that he would full fain be at their feasting. Siegfried and
Kriemhild, as the tale doth tell, gave the messengers such store of
gifts that their horses could not bear them to their native land. A
wealthy man was he. They drove their sturdy sumpters merrily along.

Siegfried and Siegmund arrayed their men. Eckewart, the margrave, that
very hour bade seek out ladies' robes, the best that were at hand or
might be found throughout all Siegfried's land. Men gan prepare the
saddles and the shields. To knights and ladies who should go hence with
him was given whatso they would, so that they wanted naught. He brought
to his kinsfolk many a lordly stranger.

The mess