Page:The Nibelungenlied - tr. Shumway - 1909.pdf/106

48 knightly pastime to Brunhild’s land, and have need of princely garb to wear before the dames.”

Then the noble maiden answered: ”Dear brother mine, I do you now to wit, that whatever need ye have of help of mine, that stand I ready to give. Should any deny you aught, ’t would please Kriemhild but ill. Most noble knights, beseech me not with such concern, but order me with lordly air to do whatso ye list. I stand at your bidding and will do it with a will.” So spake the winsome maid.

“We would fain, dear sister, wear good attire, and this your noble hand shall help to choose. Your maidens then must make it fit us, for there be no help against this journey.” Then spake the princess: “Now mark ye what I say. Silks I have myself; see ye that men do bring us jewels upon the shields and thus we’ll work the clothes.” Gunther and Siegfried, too, gave glad assent.

“Who are the comrades,” spake the queen, “who shall fare with you thus clad to court?”

He spake: “I shall be one of four. My liegemen twain, Dankwart and Hagen, shall go with me to court. Now mark ye well, my lady, what I say. Each of us four must have to wear for four whole days three changes of apparel and such goodly trappings that without shame we may quit Brunhild’s land.”

In fitting wise the lords took leave and parted hence. Kriemhild, the queen, bade thirty of her maidens who were skillful in such work, come forth from out their bowers. Silks of Araby, white as snow, and the fair silk of Zazamanc, green as is the clover, they