That he would they should be his heralds unto far…

That he would they should be his heralds unto far Burgundia-land. And for their arraying in vesture right goodly he gave command. For good knights four-and-twenty were provided mantle and vest; For to these withal with the minstrels was given the King's behest, Even to bear his bidding unto Gunther and his men. But the Lady Kriemhild set her to commune with them privily then. Said the mighty King: "Now hearken, that mine hest ye may so fulfil: I send unto those our kinsmen all love and all good will, And I pray them to ride to my country unto them that love them here. Never in all my life-days guests have I known so dear. And if these peradventure be minded to grant the thing that I pray, Even the kinsmen of Kriemhild, I beseech them not to delay, But to come in the summer season of this year unto my feast: So by these my marriage-kinsmen shall the joy of my life be increased." Made answer the viol-minstrel, and Schwemmel the knightly replied: "When, O my Lord, in the Hunland shall fall thy festal tide, To the end that unto thy kinsmen by Rhine we may certainly say?" Made answer and spake King Etzel, "On next Midsummer Day." "We will do after thy commandment," straight Werbel made reply.

Then Kriemhild caused the heralds to be summoned secretly Unto the closet royal, and there she communed with the twain. Thereof unto many a good knight was begotten ruinous bane. She spake in her guile to the heralds: "Ye shall earn of me rich meed, If ye keep in your hearts my counsel, and perform it with diligent heed, And speak in mine ancient home-land the word of my desire; Then rich in goods will I make you, and give to you royal attire. When at Worms beside Rhine-river your messenger feet shall be brought To the presence of those my kinsfolk, see ye confess this not That here ye have ever beheld me in grief as of widowhood. And bear ye my love-greeting to the heroes valiant and good, And pray them to grant this favour, even my lord's request, And thereby to bring me riddance from the constant grief of my breast,

Even this, that I seem 'the Kinless' here in the Hunfolk's sight. For me, full oft to the Rhineland would I come, were I but a knight! Unto Gernot withal my brother, the noble prince, say ye That none unto him more loving than I on earth can be; And pray that he bring with him hither all our noblest kin To greet us here in the Hunland: high honour so shall we win. And to Giselher's remembrance withal be this thing brought, That never through him to Kriemhild hath wrong or despite been wrought: Him therefore here in the Hunland gladly mine eyes would see; Yea, sorely I long to greet him for his love and his faith unto me. What glory here hath crowned me do ye to my mother say. And, if haply Hagen of Troneg would fain hang back from the way, Who then through those strange marches shall be guide to the mighty ones? For hath not he known from childhood the paths to the land of the Huns?"

Now the messengers knew not wherefore so fixed it was in her mind That they should not suffer Hagen of Troneg to tarry behind Beside the Rhine. To their sorrow were they to learn it yet, When with grim death many a hero face to face should be set. Unto these were messages given and tokens from Etzel's hand. With wealth enriched they journeyed: they might bear them as lords of the land. Fair leave of their liege-lord Etzel and his comely wife took they, And they went forth splendour-vestured in royal-rich array.

XXIV. How the Hun-King's Minstrels bade the Burgundians to the Feast

When Etzel forth to the Rhineland had his viol-minstrels sped, From land to land the story on the wings of rumour fled. By messengers swift to his barons request and command he gave To come to his festal high-tide; and they came—to the gates of the grave.