Page:The lay of the Nibelungs; (IA nibelungslay00hortrich).pdf/312

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Yet days of old in Rhineland she could not quite forget,

Beside her noble husband; and then her eyes grew wet.

She did her best to hide it, lest anyone should see.

After so many a sorrow much honour now had she.

What others gave in bounty no better was than air

Compared with Dietrich’s giving. Whatever Botlung’s heir

Had given him for largesse, that quickly lavish’d he.

Eke Rüdeger with bounty was marvellously free.

And Bloedelin came also, the prince from Hungary,

And bade men take whatever in many chests might be

Of gold and silver pieces: ’twas all to give away.

Then saw one the king’s heroes keeping high holiday.

The players of King Etzel, Wärbel and Swemmelin,

I ween that either of them did at the wedding win

A thousand marks for certain, or maybe even more,

What time the fair Kriemhilda her crown by Etzel wore.

Upon the eighteenth morning they from Vienna went.

Then was in knightly pastime full many a buckler bent,

By lances that were carried in every warrior’s hand.

Soon came the royal Etzel unto the Hunnish land.

In the old town of Heimburg they rested overnight.

By then the throng of people could no one tell aright,

Nor with what strength of numbers they overspread the ground.

Ay me, and what fair women they in his country found!