Page:The lay of the Nibelungs; (IA nibelungslay00hortrich).pdf/199

XI.]

If any better welcome to heroes aye befell

Than in this land of Siegmund, it is not mine to tell.

To meet the fair Kriemhilda Sieglind herself did ride,

With many a lovely lady and gallant knights beside.

After a whole day’s journey at length the guests they spied.

Both native-born and strangers did weary of the ride,

Before they reached a fortress,— a castle large and strong,—

’Twas Santen hight; and therein they wore their crowns erelong.

With smiling lips and loving, Sieglind and Siegmund too

Greeted the fair Kriemhilda, with kisses not a few;

They did the like to Siegfried; now gone was all their pain.

Their followers did likewise a hearty welcome gain.

They bade the guests be taken in front of Siegmund’s hall.

And there the beauteous maidens were holpen, one and all,

To dismount from their palfreys; and there was many a man

Who on these lovely women to wait with zeal began.

How grand soe’er the wedding had been upon the Rhine,

Here did they give the heroes apparel far more fine

Than they, in all their lifetime, had ever worn before.

One might tell mickle marvels of all their wealth in store.

They sate in state and splendour, and had of all enough.

What raiment wore their servants of golden-colour’d stuff!

With broider’d lace adornéd, and precious stones inwrought!

The noble Queen Sieglinda of this had taken thought.