erve her, that shall be
gladly done, in faith. Who now will tell the ladies that I would hie me
thither?"

Giselher then became the messenger, the stately man. The doughty knight
spake to his mother and his sister too, when that he saw them both: "To
us is come Siegfried, the hero from Netherland; him my brother Gunther
hath sent hither to the Rhine. He bringeth the news of how it standeth
with the king. Pray let him therefore come to court. He'll tell you the
right tidings straight from Isenland."

As yet the noble ladies were acquaint with fear, but now for their weeds
they sprang and dressed them and bade Sir Siegfried come to court. This
he did full gladly, for he was fain to see them. Kriemhild, the noble
maid, addressed him fair: "Be welcome, Sir Siegfried, most worshipful
knight. Where is my brother Gunther, the noble and mighty king? We ween
that we have lost him through Brunhild's strength. Woe is me, poor maid,
that ever I was born."

Then spake the daring knight: "Now give me an envoy's guerdon, ye
passing fair ladies, ye do weep without a cause. I do you to wit, I left
him safe and sound. They have sent me with the tidings to you both. He
and his bride do send you kindly greetings and a kinsman's love, O noble
queen. Now leave off your weeping, they'll come full soon."

In many a day she had not heard a tale so glad. With her snow-white
hem she wiped the tears from her pretty eyes and began to thank the
messenger for the tidings, which now were come. Thus her great sorrow
and her weeping were taken away. She bade the messenger be seated; full
ready he was for this. Then spake the winsome maid: "I should not rue
it, should I give you as an envoy's meed my gold. For that ye are too
rich, but I will be your friend in other ways."

"And had I alone," spake he, "thirty lands, yet would I gladly receive
gifts from your fair hand."

Then spake the courtly maid: "It shall be done." She bade her
chamberlain go fetch the meed for tidings. Four and twenty arm-rings,
set with goodly gold, she gave him as his meed. So stood the hero's mood
that he would not retain them, but gave them straightway to her nearest
maidens, he found within the bower. Full kindly her mother offered him
her service. "I am to tell you the tale," then spake the valiant man,
"of what the king doth pray you, when he cometh to the Rhine. If ye
perform that, my lady, he'll ever hold you in his love. I heard him
crave that ye should give fair g