Page:The lay of the Nibelungs; (IA nibelungslay00hortrich).pdf/174

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“The noble guests he bringeth— I heard him this desire—

He wishes you to welcome; and eke he doth require

That you ride forth to meet him, outside Worms, on the strand;

This doth the king, at your hands, in all good faith demand.”

Then spake the lovely lady: “Ready am I alway

Howe’er I can to serve him; I cannot say him nay;

All shall in loyal kindness, as he desires, be done.”

Whereat her cheek, for gladness, a heighten’d colour won.

No prince’s herald ever a better welcome had;

And had she dared to kiss him she would have been right glad . How winsomely the gallant then from the dames withdrew!

As noble Siegfried counsel’d did the Burgundians do.

Sir Sindold and Sir Hunold, and eke Rumold the thane,

To whom the charge was given, must work with might and main

To have the seats made ready, by Worms upon the sands,

One saw the royal stewards there working with their hands!

Ortwein and Gere would not that aught be left undone.

They sent unto their kinsfolk on all sides, every one;

They told them of the wedding which was about to be.

The beauteous maids adorn’d them for the festivity.

The palace was made splendid, and deck’d was ev’ry wall

In honour of the guest-folk. King Gunther’s royal hall

Was all right well upholstered by many a foreign man.

And so this mighty wedding right merrily began.