nor before princes. I will
lead to the Rhine five hundred stately men, that wherever in Burgundy I
and mine be seen, all may say of thee: `Never did any king send afar so
many men in better wise than thou hast done to the Rhine.' If thou, O
mighty king, wilt not turn back on this account, I'll tell thee that
her noble love was subject unto Siegfried, Siegmund's son. Him thou hast
seen here. (4) Men could in right truth ascribe to him great worship."

Then spake King Etzel: "Tho' she was the warrior's wife, yet was the
noble prince so peerless that I should not disdain the queen. She liketh
me well for her passing beauty."

The margrave answered: "Then I will tell thee that we will start hence
in four and twenty days. I'll send word to Gotelind, my dear lady, that
I myself will be the messenger to Kriemhild."

Rudeger sent word to Bechelaren, at which the margravine grew both
sorrowful and proud. He told her he should woo for the king a wife.
Lovingly she thought on Helca, the fair. When the margravine heard the
message, a deal she rued it; weeping beseemed her at the thought whether
she should gain a lady as afore. When she thought on Helca, it grieved
her heart full sore.

Rudeger should ride in seven days from Hungary; lusty and merry King
Etzel was at this. There in the town of Vienna men prepared their
weeds. Then might he no longer delay his journey. At Bechelaren Gotelind
awaited him; the young margravine, too, Rudeger's child, gladly saw her
father and his men. Many fair maids awaited them with joy. Ere the noble
Rudeger rode from the city of Vienna to Bechelaren, all their clothes
were placed upon the sumpters. They journeyed in such wise that not a
whit was taken from them.

When they were come to tho town of Bechelaren, the host full lovingly
bade lodge his fellowship and ease them well. The noble Gotelind saw
the host come gladly, as likewise his dear daughter did, the young
margravine. To her his coming could not be liefer. How fain she was to
see the heroes from the Hunnish land! With smiling mien the noble maiden
spake: "Now be my father and his men full welcome here."

Then great thanks were given to the young margravine by many a doughty
knight in courteous wise. Well wot Gotelind Sir Rudeger's mood. When at
night she lay close by his side, what kindly questions the margravine
put, whither the king of the Huns had sent him. He spake: "My Lady
Gotelind, I'll gladly make this known to thee. I must wo