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170 were a paynim, gladly would I go whithersoever he listed and would take him to my husband.”

Then spake the margrave: “Lady, give over this speech. He hath so many knights of Christian faith, that ye’ll ever be joyful at his court. What if ye bring it to pass, that he should let himself be christened? Therefore may ye fain become King Etzel’s wife.”

Then her brothers spake again: “Now pledge your troth, dear sister. Ye should now give over your sadness.”

They begged her till she sadly vowed before the heroes to become King Etzel’s bride. She spake: “I will obey you, I poor queen, and fare to the Huns as soon as ever that may be, whenever I have friends who will take me to his land.”

Of this fair Kriemhild pledged her hand before the knights.

Then spake the margrave: “If ye have two liegemen, I have still more. ’T will be the best, that with worship we escort you across the Rhine. No longer, lady, shall ye tarry here in Burgundy. I have five hundred vassals and kinsmen, too; they shall serve you, lady, and do whatso ye bid, both here and there at home. I’ll do by you the same whenever ye do mind me of the tale and never feel ashamed. Now bid the housings for your horses be made ready (Rüdeger’s counsel will never irk you) and tell it to your maids, whom ye would take along, for many a chosen knight will meet us on the road.”

She still had harness with which they rode afore in Siegfried’s time, so that she might take with her many maidens now with worship, whenever she would hence.