ught to stay, if perchance he might espy
her. Later it was done, and according to his wish he met the maid. He
rode thereafter joyfully to Siegmund's land.

At all times the host bade practice knighthood, and many a youthful
knight did this right gladly. Meanwhile he ordered seats prepared upon
the sand before the town of Worms for those who were to visit him in the
Burgundian land. At the time when they should come, fair Kriemhild heard
it said that the king would hold a feasting for the sake of his dear
friends. Then comely women hasted apace with robes and headgear which
they were to don. The noble Uta heard tales told of the proud warriors
who were to come. Then many rich dresses were taken from the press. To
please her children she bade make garments ready, that many ladies and
many maids might therewith be decked and many youthful knights of the
Burgundian land. Also for many of the strangers she bade fashion lordly
robes.

ENDNOTES:
(1) "Saxons". This war with the Saxons does not appear in the
poetic "Edda", but was probably introduced into the story
later to provide the heroes with a suitable activity in the
period elapsing between Siegfried's marriage and the journey
to Brunhild's land. (In our poem it is placed before the
marriage.) It reflects the ancient feuds between the Franks
on the one hand and the Saxons and Danes on the other.
Originally Siegfried probably did not take part in it, but
was later introduced and made the leader of the expedition
in place of the king, in accordance with the tendency to
idealize him and to give him everywhere the most important
role. The two opposing leaders are "Liudeger", lord of the
Saxons, and "Liudegast", king of Denmark. In "Biterolf"
Liudeger rules over both Saxons and Danes, and Liudegast is
his brother.
(2) "Fey". This Scotch and older English word has been chosen
to translate the M.H.G. "veige", 'fated', 'doomed', as it is
etymologically the same word. The ancient Germans were
fatalists and believed only those would die in battle whom
fate had so predestined.
(3) "Thirty thousand". The M.H.G. epics are fond of round
numbers and especially of thirty and its multiples. They
will be found to occur very frequently in our poem. See
Lachmann, "Anmerkungen zu den Nibelungen",