o another
lady for my lord, sith that the fair Helca hath died. I will ride for
Kriemhild to the Rhine; she shall become a mighty queen here among the
Huns."

"Would to God," spake Gotelind, "an' that might hap, sith we do hear
such speech of her many honors, that she might perchance replace our
lady for us in our old age, and that we might be fain to let her wear
the crown in Hungary."

Then spake the margrave: "My love, ye must offer to those who are to
ride with me to the Rhine, your goods in loving wise. When heroes travel
richly, then are they of lofty mood."

She spake: "There be none that taketh gladly from my hand, to whom I
would not give what well beseemeth him, or ever ye and your men part
hence."

Quoth the margrave: "That doth like me well."

Ho, what rich cloths of silk were borne from their treasure chambers!
With enow of this the clothing of the noble warriors was busily lined
from the neck down to their spurs. Rudeger had chosen only men that
pleased him well.

On the seventh morning the host and his warriors rode forth from
Bechelaren. Weapons and clothes a plenty they took with them through the
Bavarian land. Seldom did men assail them on the highways for robbery's
sake, and within twelve days they reached the Rhine. Then might the
tidings not be hid; men told it to the king and to his liegemen, that
stranger guests were come. The host gan say, if any knew them, he should
tell him so. One saw their sumpters bear right heavy loads. 'Twas seen
that they were passing rich.

Anon in the broad town men purveyed them quarters. When that the many
strangers had been lodged, these same lords were gazed upon full oft.
The people wondered from whence these warriors were come to the Rhine.
The host now sent for Hagen, if perchance they might be known to him.
Then spake the knight of Troneg: "None of them have I ever seen, but
when we now gaze upon them, I can tell you well from whence they ride
hither to this land. They must indeed be strangers, an' I know them not
full soon." (5)

Lodgings were now taken for the guests. The envoy and his fellowship
were come in passing costly vesture. To the court they rode wearing good
garments, cut in full cunning wise. Then spake the doughty Hagen: "As
well as I can tell, for I have not seen the lord long time, they ride as
if 'twere Rudeger from the Hunnish land, a lordly knight and a brave."

"How can I believe," spake at once the king, "that the lord of
Bechel