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XX.]

Sir Rüdeger made answer: —a mighty margrave he—

“Did I thy riches covet, that were unpraiseworthy.

Unto the Rhine thy message to bear I shall be glad

At charge of mine own fortune, which from thy hands I had.”

Then spake the mighty sovereign: “Now when wilt thou fare hence

To seek this lovely lady? May God give thee defence

And honour in the journey, and eke this lady mine,

May she to us, luck helping, a gracious ear incline.”

Then Rüdeger spake further: “Ere yet we leave the land,

We must prepare both raiment and weapons to our hand,

That so before the princes due honour we may have.

I’ll lead unto the Rhine-land five hundred warriors brave.

“So, me and mine beholding, the men of Burgundy

Shall every man among them be fain to testify

That ne’er from king in those parts on such a journey went

So many men or better than thou to the Rhine hast sent.

“And be it not displeasing by thee, great ruler, found

That, noble love obeying, she was in wedlock bound

To Siegfried, son of Siegmund; him hast thou here beheld.

In honour great he must be in truth for ever held.”

Then said King Etzel: “Though she was wife unto that knight,

Yet was his noble body so precious in my sight,

That on the queen I cannot e’er look disdainfully;

By her exceeding beauty right well she pleaseth me.”