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XX.]

Then Hagen, knight of Tronjé, unto his lord did say:

“These warriors of ours should be beholden aye

For kindness that the margrave hath shown to us before:

Fair Gotelinda’s husband must have reward therefore.”

Then spake the royal Gunther: “I can no more delay;

In health how are they faring, that tell to me, I pray;—

Etzel, I mean, and Helka, who over Hunsland reign?”

“All will I,” said the margrave, “gladly to you make plain.”

Straight from the seat uprose he, as eke did all his men,

And to the king thus spake he: “If thus it may be then,

And you, O prince, allow it, I will no more delay

The tidings that I bring you, but willingly will say.”

He said: “Whate’er the tidings that unto us you bear,

I wait not friendly counsel, but bid you to declare.

Let me and my men hear them, whatever they may be;

I bid you, in all honour, discharge your embassy.”

Then spake the trusty envoy: “To you upon the Rhine

His faithful service tenders that mightful lord of mine;

To every friend moreover that unto you may be,

This message I deliver, in faith and honesty:

“The noble king doth ask for your pity in his need.

All joyless are his people: my lady she is dead,

The rich and mighty Helka, of my good lord the wife;

And now full many a maiden doth lead an orphan’d life—