en."

But Hagen said courteously, "Wherefore beg this service of thy mother?
Tell thy sister of thy intent. She is skilled, and will provide thee
with goodly raiment."

And Gunther prayed his sister to receive him and Siegfried. The which
she did after she had robed her in her best apparel. She was little
grieved at the coming of the knights. Her attendants were fitly adorned,
and the knights went in. When she saw them, she rose from her seat, and
hasted, and received the noble guest and her brother courteously. She
said, "Thou are welcome, my brother: thou and they friend. I would know
what hath brought you to the court. Tell me, I pray you, noble knights,
how it standeth with you."

The king answered, "Lady, I will tell thee. An hard adventure is before
us, the which we must bear boldly through. We ride a-wooing into a far
and a strange land, and have need of rich apparel."

"Now sit, dear brother," said the king's child, "and tell me plainly who
the women are that ye would woo in other kings' lands." The maiden took
both the chosen knights by the hand, and led them to the rich cushion
whereon she had sat, and on the which were wrought (for this I know) fair
pictures raised with gold. They wearied not, certes, among the women.
Of kind glances and soft looks there was no stint. Siegfried bore her in
his heart, and loved her as his life, and won her for his wife by noble
service.

The great king said, "Dearest sister mine, we need thy help. We go to
sojourn in the land of Brunhild, and must have rich apparel to wear
before the women."

The princess answered, "If I can aid thee in any wise, believe me, I will
do it; sad were Kriemhild if aught were denied thee. Ask of me, nothing
doubting, noble knight, and, as a master, command me; all that thou
desirest I will readily perform."

"We would have goodly raiment, dear sister, and therein thy white hand
shall help us. Let thy maids bestir them, that we be fair equipped,
since none shall turn us from this journey."

Said the damsel, "Now mark what I say. We have silk of our own; bid them
bring us hither, on the shields, precious stones to work the robes
withal, that unashamed ye may wear them before the royal maiden." The
princess asked, "Who are they that shall follow thee in rich array to the
court?"

And he answered, "We be four. My two liegemen, Dankwart and Hagen, ride
with us. And what I tell thee, mark well. For each of four days thou