Then said the youthful Ortwin: “I beg you say to me

Then said the youthful Ortwin: “I beg you say to me To whom belongs this clothing, that on the sands I see? For whom are you here washing? You both are so comely showing, Who can this shame have done you? May God bring low the man such outrage doing!

“So fair are you and lovely, you well might wear the crown; If all that is your birthright you now could call your own, You would, in truth, be worthy to be with ladies seated. Has he for whom you are toiling more such washers fair so foully treated?”

To him the lovely maiden in greatest sorrow spoke: “Many he hath beside us who fairer still do look. All that you list now ask us; yet, with eye unsleeping, One from the leads doth watch us, who ne’er will forgive the talk with you we’re keeping.”

“Be not at this uneasy, but deign our gold to take, And with it these four arm-bands. These your reward we make, If you, most lovely ladies, of speech will not be wary; To you we give them gladly, if of the truth we seek you be not chary.”