Page:The lay of the Nibelungs; (IA nibelungslay00hortrich).pdf/311

XXII.]

The marriage was accomplish’d one day in Whitsuntide,

When first the royal Etzel lay by Kriemhilda’s side,

Within Vienna’s city. So many men, thought she,

At her first husband’s bidding, she surely ne’er did see.

To those who had not seen her she made herself well known

By gifts; yea many among them unto the guests did own:

“We deemed that dame Kriemhilda had little goods or gold,—

But here hath she, by giving, wrought marvels manifold.”

The merry-making lasted for days full seventeen.

And never was there told of another king, I ween,

Whose wedding was more noble: such is to us unknown.

All folk who there were present did new apparel own.

In Netherland, aforetime, thought she, she ne’er had sat

With such a throng of warriors. I say, moreover, that,

If great was Siegfried’s substance, he ne’er had, as his men,

So many noble warriors as stood round Etzel then.

Nor was there ever any who at his wedding-tide

Of mantles gave so many, so rich and deep and wide;

Nor any such good raiment as here there was to don.

In honour of Kriemhilda was all in this wise done.

Their friends and eke the strangers were all alike of mind,

That there had been no sparing in gear of any kind.

Whatever any wanted, that presently he had.

Yea many a knight through kindness was wellnigh naked made.