were given
and goodly raiment, and to each his place, even unto two and thirty
princes of the highest and the best. So they tell us.

And the women vied with one another in their attire. Giselher, the
youth, and Gernot, and their two squires, rested not from welcoming both
friends and strangers. They gave courtly greeting unto the warriors.

The guests brought with them to the Rhine, to the tourney, saddles worked
in ruddy gold, and finely-wrought shields, and knightly apparel. And the
sick rejoiced, and they that lay on their beds sore wounded forgot that
death is an hard thing. When the rumour of the festival was noised
abroad, no man took heed more of them that groaned, for each thought only
how he might sojourn there as a guest. Joy without measure had all they
that were found there, and gladness and rejoicing were in Gunther's land.

On Whitsun morning there drew toward the hightide a goodly company of
brave men, fairly clad: five thousand or more, and they made merry far
and wide, and strove with one another in friendly combat.

Now Gunther knew well how, truly and from his heart, the hero of the
Netherland loved his sister whom he had not yet seen, and whose beauty
the people praised before that of all other maidens.

And he said, "Now counsel me, my kinsmen and my lieges, how we may order
this hightide, that none may blame us in aught; for only unto such deeds
as are good, pertaineth lasting fame."

Then answered Ortwin, the knight, to the king, "If thou wilt win for
thyself glory from the hightide, let now the maidens that dwell with
honour in our midst appear before us. For what shall pleasure or glad a
man more than to behold beautiful damsels and fair women? Bid thy sister
come forth and show herself to thy guests."

And this word pleased the knights.

"That will I gladly do," said the king; and they that heard him
rejoiced. He sent a messenger to Queen Uta, and besought her that she
would come to the court with her daughter and her women-folk.

And these took from the presses rich apparel, and what lay therein in
wrapping-cloths; they took also brooches, and their silken girdles worked
with gold, and attired themselves in haste. Many a noble maiden adorned
herself with care, and the youths longed exceedingly to find favour in
their eyes, and had not taken a rich king's land in lieu thereof. And
they that knew not one another before looked each upon each right gladly.

The rich king com