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the margrave went to where he found the ladies, his wife with his daughter, and told them straightway the pleasing tidings he had heard, that the brothers of their lady were coming thither to their house. “My dearest love,” quoth Rüdeger, “ye must receive full well the noble high-born kings, when they come here to court with their fellowship. Ye must give fair greeting, too, to Hagen, Gunther’s man. With them there cometh one also, hight Dankwart; the other is named Folker, well beseen with courtesie. Ye and my danghter must kiss these and abide by the knights with gentle breeding.” This the ladies vowed; quite ready they were to do it. From the chests they hunted out the lordly robes in which they would go to meet the warriors. Fair dames were passing busy on that day. Men saw but little of false colors on the ladies’ cheeks; upon their heads they wore bright bands of gold. Rich chaplets these were, that the winds might not dishevel their comely hair, and this is true i’ faith.

Let us now leave the ladies with these tasks. Much hasting over the plain was done by Rüdeger’s friends, to where one found the lordings, whom men then received well into the margrave’s land. When the margrave, the doughty Rüdeger, saw them coming toward him, how joyfully he spake: “Be ye welcome, fair sirs, and your liegemen, too. I be fain to see you in my