Page:The Nibelungenlied - tr. Shumway - 1909.pdf/152

94 Then spake the Lady Kriemhild: “Though ye forego my heritage, yet is it not so light a matter with the Burgundian men-at-arms. A king might gladly lead them to his land. Forsooth my brothers’ hands must share them with me.”

Then spake the Lord Gernot: “Now take whomsoever thou dost wish. Thou wilt find here really a one who’ll gladly ride with thee. We will give thee a thousand of our thirty hundred warriors; be they thy court retainers.”

Kriemhild then gan send for Hagen of Troneg and also for Ortwin, to ask if they and their kinsfolk would be Kriemhild’s men.

At this Hagen waxed wonderly wroth. He spake: “Certes, Gunther may not give us to any in the world. Let others follow as your train. Ye know full well the custom of the men of Troneg: we must in duty bound remain here with the kings at court. We must serve them longer, whom we till now have followed.”

They gave that over and made them ready to ride away. Lady Kriemhild gained for herself two and thirty maids and five hundred men, a noble train. The Margrave Eckewart followed Kriemhild hence. They all took leave, both knights and squires and maids and ladies, as was mickle right. Anon they parted with a kiss and voided merrily King Gunther’s land. Their kinsmen bare them company far upon the way and bade them pitch their quarters for the night, whereso they listed, throughout the princes’ land.

Then messengers were sent eftsoon to Siegmund, that he might know, and Siegelind, too, that his son would come with Lady Uta’s child, Kriemhild, the