Now day by day the watchers saw heroes Rhineward ride

Now day by day the watchers saw heroes Rhineward ride, Warriors fain of the joyance of that great festal-tide, Knights that for love of the Rhine-lords into the Rhineland pressed; And ever with gifts were they greeted, swift steed and goodly vest. Fair-dight by this were the high-seats with purple and gleam of gold For the noblest and the bravest, as the ancient tale hath told, For the princes two-and-thirty that thronged to the festival. And in rivalry of beauty fair women arrayed them withal. There Giselher the stripling all-eager might ye see, As he welcomed the homeland-dweller and the stranger courteously; And with him stood Gernot his brother and all their knightly train: With the honour of ancient custom they greeted each noble thane.

Through the Rhineland highways rode they on saddles with gold red-glowing; Great shields all splendour-blazoned, rich mantles lordly-flowing Went flashing up the city to that glorious festal-tide:— Yea, men unhealed blithe-hearted looked forth on their knightly pride; Ay, the battle-stricken tossing on beds of pain all day Forgat how near to the shadow of bitter death they lay: For the sick and the fever-blasted love's lips forgot to sigh, So glad were they all for the dawning of the festal days so nigh; For they thought, "In such royal bounty shall we live and see good days!" There were murmurs of mirth unmeasured through all the city's ways; There were overflowings of gladness—more bliss no man hath beheld: High through the land of Gunther the tides of joyance swelled. All on a merry morning of Whitsuntide rode they, Those splendour-vestured chosen brave knights in long array,