Then into the presence of Kriemhild passed that gallant…

Then into the presence of Kriemhild passed that gallant knight. She gave to him gracious welcome, and he spake the word forthright: "Well mayst thou blithely greet me, and give me the messenger's meed For tidings of good fortune and days from sorrow freed! One seeketh thy love, O Lady: lo, here his heralds be. He is noble among the noblest that in honour and majesty Have ruled over royal dominions, or a knightly crown have worn. Proud knights be his suitors. This message from thy brother to thee have I borne." Then answered the sorrow-burdened: "Now God forbid that ye, Even thou and all my kinsmen, should make a mockery Of me in mine affliction! How should I shadow the life Of a man that hath known the heart's love of a true and faithful wife?" Earnestly she gainsaid it. Then came in twain unto her, Gernot the knight her brother, and the young prince Giselher; And lovingly did they pray her to be comforted from her woe, And to take the King to her husband, for that this to her profit should grow.

Yet howsoever they pleaded, was none could turn aside The heart of that Queen of Sorrow to be another's bride. So they ceased, but they prayed her, "Suffer in any wise this thing, An thou wilt nought else, to look on the herald of Etzel the King." "Yea," answered the noble Lady, "this thing will I not deny. Upon Rüdiger the knightly, the flower of chivalry, Will I look with heart ungrudging: had another the messenger been, Yea, any save this man only, my face should he ne'er have seen." And she said: "Unto this my bower let the friend of the King draw near At morning-tide to-morrow; mine answer then shall he hear: Yea all that mine heart hath determined with mine own lips will I tell." Then she turned her again to her mourning, and the tears of her sorrow fell.

Now Rüdiger the noble desired none other grace So much as this, to be suffered to see her face to face;

For he knew the all-prevailing power of a wise man's tongue; And he thought, "If the thing may be compassed, the Queen shall consent ere long." At early morn scarce ended was holy prayer and song, When the heralds drew near: around them pressed a mighty throng To gaze on the knights to the palace which rode with Rüdiger there: In the splendour of their raiment right gallant thanes they were.

Kriemhild the while, the high-born, in sorrow-stricken mood For Rüdiger sat waiting, that noble knight and good, Not decked as a queen, but in raiment that served her day by day; But clad were her bower-maidens in royal-rich array. At his coming she rose, and to meet him to the bower-door she went, And with gracious greeting welcomed the herald of Etzel sent. With none save comrades eleven he came before the Queen, And with worshipful honour was welcomed: never princelier envoys were seen. They bade them unto the high-seats, even him and his knightly train. The while in the presence of Kriemhild stood the margraves twain, The noble knights and valiant, Eckwart and Gere withal. But by reason of Kriemhild's sorrow heavy of cheer were they all. Sat in their Lady's presence many a comely maid; But never the flood of the weeping and mourning of Kriemhild was stayed. Her raiment over her bosom was wet with the hot tears' flow. And the noble Lord of the Marches beheld, and grieved in her woe.

Then spake that courteous herald: "O Daughter of Kings, I pray For myself and my fellow-farers which have come from far away, That thou of thy grace wilt suffer that now in thy presence we stand And utter to thee the message that we bring from our fatherland." "This grace do I freely accord thee," the sad Queen made reply; "Speak whatsoe'er thou desirest, for purposed now am I Gladly to hear that message: good herald and true thou art." Yet all through the courteous bidding discerned the reluctant heart.

Then the Knight of Bechlaren, the Margrave Rüdiger, spake the word: "Unto thee, O Lady, Etzel the mighty King my Lord In love and in faith doth commend him; his greeting I bear to thy land; And good knights many he sendeth, his suitors for thine hand. He maketh thee faithful proffer of love that shall banish pain; All constancy of affection from his true heart shalt thou gain, Even such as had Helka, who nearest lay to his heart of old— The heart that remembers her goodness in lone grief manifold."

Then spake unto him Queen Kriemhild: "Lord Margrave Rüdiger, If of mine heart's affliction any man were ware, He would counsel me never to hearken if another man should woo, Who have lost the best and the dearest that ever woman knew." "Wherein is there comfort for sorrow," answered the valiant thane, "More than in love of a true heart? Whoso this treasure may gain, And hath won whom his heart hath chosen, and filled the void thereof, He proveth that for sorrow there is no salve like unto love. And if thou to my noble master wilt yield thy love, and wed, Twelve crowns of mighty kingdoms will he set upon thine head, Yea, and of thirty princes my Lord shall give thee the lands; Subject are they, overmastered by his all-conquering hands. Thou shalt be withal liege-lady of many a warrior bold Which were vassals to my mistress Helka in days of old, And of many a high-born lady from princely lineage sprung That to her once rendered service"—spake on that winning tongue— "This also the King shall give thee, he bade me say unto thee, So thou yield to wear beside him the crown of royalty, Power, even the highest that ever in the hands of Helka lay; All the warrior-vassals of Etzel thee also shall obey."

"Ah me! how could I ever," Queen Kriemhild mournfully cried, "Incline mine heart hereafter to be any hero's bride, Even I, whom death hath stricken through one with such bitter grief That unto my life's end never from pain shall I find relief?"

"O mighty Queen," the Hunfolk unto Kriemhild made reply, "Their life who dwell with Etzel so royally fleeteth by, That a dream of delight shall thy days be, if thou hearken our counselling. O, many a gallant baron doeth homage to Etzel the King. And the bower-maidens of Helka and they that be here with thee Shall wait upon thy pleasure in one bright company; And many a knight beholding these shall be glad of heart. For thy good shall it fall, O Lady, if thou choose the better part." Then she spake like a courteous lady: "Awhile from speech refrain Till the morning-tide of to-morrow; then come ye to me again. So touching this your petition will I tell you mine intent." And the valiant barons of Hunland thereto must needs consent.

So when in hall and hostel lodged and feasted they were, That noble Lady commanded to send to her Giselher, And withal her mother Uta; and to these twain did she say: "No life save weeping and mourning remaineth to me for aye!" Spake Giselher her brother: "Sister, mine heart foresees— And I count it herein true prophet—that thy pangs and thy miseries In King Etzel's love shall vanish: if thou share his life and his throne, Let who will speak against it, meseems it shall well be done. For all thou hast lost," said her brother, "can he make amends unto thee. From the River Rhone to the Rhine-stream, from the Elbe to the uttermost sea, There is no king so mighty that men have known or seen. Well might thine heart be gladdened that he chooseth thee for his Queen." She answered: "O brother belovèd, counsel not this, I implore! Meeter for me are weeping and wailing evermore. What have I to do with a palace, in the presence of knights to shine? Long since my beauty hath faded, if beauty ever was mine." Now speaketh the Lady Uta to the daughter she loveth, and saith: "Nay, do thou, daughter belovèd, as thy brother counselleth. Hearken the voice of thy kinsfolk, and good days so shalt thou know. Too long have I seen thee sitting in lamentation and woe."