Page:The Nibelungenlied - tr. Shumway - 1909.pdf/284

226 speeches left unsaid. Many such spake Folker, this brave and lusty knight. Before them all the noble minstrel spake: “Mighty margrave, God hath dealt full graciously with you, for he hath given you a passing comely wife and thereto a life of joy. An’ I were a prince,” quoth the minstrel, “and should wear a crown, I would fain have to wife your comely daughter. This my heart doth wish. She is lovely for to see, thereto noble and good.”

Then answered the margrave: “How might that be, that king should ever crave the dear daughter of mine? My wife and I are exiles; what booteth in such ease the maiden’s passing comeliness?”

To this Gernot, the well-bred man, made answer: “An’ I might have a love after mine own desire, I should be ever glad of such a wife.”

Hagen, too, replied in full kindly wise: “My lord Giselher must take a wife. The margravine is of such high kin that I and all his liegemen would gladly serve her, should she wear a crown in Burgundy land.”

This speech thought Rüdeger passing good, and Gotelind too, indeed it joyed their mood. Then the heroes brought to pass that the noble Giselher took her to wife, as did well befit a king. Who may part what shall he joined together? Men prayed the margravine to go to court, and swore to give him the winsome maid. He, too, vowed to wed the lovely fair. For the maiden they set castles and land aside, and this the hand of the noble king did pledge with an oath, and Lord Gernot, too, that this should hap.

Then spake the margrave: “Sith I have naught of castles, I will ever serve you with my troth. As much sil-