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Of women six and eighty along with her she took,

And eke a hundred maidens, who comely were in look.

Then they delay’d no longer,— they wearied to be gone;

But those they left behind them, these wept, ay, many a one!

With seemly grace the lady fared from her fatherland;

She kissed her nearest kinsmen, who stood on either hand.

With kindliest leave-takings they came unto the shore;—

To her forefathers’ country the lady came no more!

One heard of games of all kinds to pass the time away

And make the journey shorter: a hundred pastimes gay.

They had, too, for their voyage a right good sailing wind.

With merriment and laughter they left their land behind.

Not once upon the journey did she embrace her lord:

Until they reached his palace their pleasure was defer’d.

At Worms they, in the castle, their wedding feast would hold;

Where they, ere long, with gladness came with their heroes bold.

When they nine days had travel’d upon their homeward way,

Spake Hagen, lord of Tronjé: “Now hark to what I say!

We yet have sent no tidings to Worms upon the Rhine:

Your heralds should be, surely, in Burgundy long syne.”