Page:The Nibelungenlied - tr. Shumway - 1909.pdf/215

Rh Siegmund’s son. Him thou hast seen here. Men could in right truth ascribe to him great worship.”

Then spake King Etzel: “Tho’ she was the warrior’s wife, yet was the noble prince so peerless that I should not disdain the queen. She liketh me well for her passing beauty.”

The margrave answered: “Then I will tell thee that we will start hence in four and twenty days. I’ll send word to Gotelind, my dear lady, that I myself will be the messenger to Kriemhild.”

Rüdeger sent word to Bechelaren, at which the margravine grew both sorrowful and proud. He told her he should woo for the king a wife. Lovingly she thought on Helca, the fair. When the margravine heard the message, a deal she rued it; weeping beseemed her at the thought whether she should gain a lady as afore. When she thought on Helca, it grieved her heart full sore.

Rüdeger should ride in seven days from Hungary; lusty and merry King Etzel was at this. There in the town of Vienna men prepared their weeds. Then might he no longer delay his journey. At Bechelaren Gotelind awaited him; the young margravine, too, Rüdeger’s child, gladly saw her father and his men. Many fair maids awaited them with joy. Ere the noble Rüdeger rode from the city of Vienna to Bechelaren, all their clothes were placed upon the sumpters. They journeyed in such wise that not a whit was taken from them.

When they were come to the town of Bechelaren, the host full lovingly bade lodge his fellowship and ease them well. The noble Gotelind saw the host come gladly, as likewise his dear daughter did, the young