Page:The Nibelungenlied - tr. Shumway - 1909.pdf/164



us now take leave of all their bustling, and tell how Lady Kriemhild and her maidens journeyed from the Nibelung land down toward the Rhine. Never did sumpters bear so much lordly raiment. They made ready for the way full many traveling chests. Then Siegfried, the knight, and the queen as well, rode forth with their friends to where they had hope of joys. Later it sped them all to their great harm. They left Siegfried’s little child, Kriemhild’s son, at home. That must needs be. Great grief befell him through their journey to the court. The bairn never saw his father and his mother more. With them, too, there rode Lord Siegmund. Had he known aright how he would fare at the feasting, no whit of it would he have seen. No greater woe might ever hap to him in loving friends.

Messengers were sent ahead, who told the tale. Then with a stately band there rode to meet them many of Uta’s kith and Gunther’s liegemen. The host gan bestir him for his guests. He went to where Brunhild sate and asked: “How did my sister greet you when ye came to our land? In like manner must ye greet Siegfried’s wife.”

“That will I gladly,” quoth she, “for I have good cause to be her friend.”

The mighty king spake further: “They come to us early on the morrow; if ye would greet them, set