er, they begged the gallant knight
again to bear her company, as he had done afore. Then first the lovely
maid began to thank him that he had fought so gloriously before so many
knights. "Now God requite you, Sir Siegfried," spake the comely maid,
"that ye have brought to pass with your service, that the warriors do
love you with such fealty as I hear them say."

Then upon Dame Kriemhild he began to gaze in loving wise. "I will serve
them ever," spake then the knight, "and while life shall last, never
will I lay my head to rest till I have done their will; and this I do,
my Lady Kriemhild, to win your love."

A twelfth-night long, on each and every day, one saw the winsome maid
beside the knight, when she should go to court to meet her kin. This
service was done from sheer delight. A great rout of joy and pleasure
was daily seen in front of Gunther's hall, without and eke within, from
many a daring man. Ortwin and Hagen began to do great marvels. Whatever
any wished to play, these lusty knights were fully ready; thus they
became well known to all the guests and so the whole of Gunther's land
was decked with honor. Those who had lain wounded were now seen coming
forth; they, too, would fain have pastime with the troop and guard
themselves with bucklers and hurl the shaft. Enow there were to help
them, for there was great store of men.

At the feasting the host bade purvey them with the best of cheer. He
kept him free from every form of blame that might befall a king; men
saw him move in friendly wise among his guests. He spake: "Ye worthy
knights, ere ye go hence, pray take my gifts. I am minded to deserve it
of you ever. Do not disdain my goods, the which I'll share with you, as
I have great desire."

Then up spake they of Denmark: "Ere we ride homeward to our land, we
crave a lasting peace; we knights have need thereof, for many a one of
our kinsmen lieth dead at the hands of your men-at-arms."

Liudegast, the Saxon chief, was now cured of his wounds and had
recovered from the fray, though many dead they left within this land.
Then King Gunther went to find Sir Siegfried; to the knight he spake:
"Now tell me what to do. Our foes would fain ride early and beg for
lasting peace of me and of my men. Advise me now, Knight Siegfried, what
thinketh thee good to do? What the lordings offer me will I tell thee;
what of gold five hundred steeds can bear, that would they gladly give
me, and I set them free again."

Then s