. He is ready
to give you constant friendship, as he did afore to Lady Helca, who lay
within his heart. Certes, through longing for her virtues he hath full
often joyless days."

Then spake the queen: "Margrave Rudeger, were there any who knew my
bitter sorrow, he would not bid me marry any man. Of a truth I lost the
best of husbands that ever lady won."

"What may comfort grief," the bold knight replied, "but married joy.
When that any gan gain this and chooseth one who doth beseem him, naught
availeth so greatly for woe of heart. And ye care to love my noble
master, ye shall have power over twelve mighty crowns. Thereto my lord
will give you the lands of thirty princes, all of which his doughty hand
hath overcome. Ye shall become the mistress over many worthy liegemen,
who were subject to my Lady Helca, and over many dames of high and
princely race, who owned her sway." Thus spake the brave knight and
bold. "Thereto my lord will give you (this he bade me say), if ye would
deign to wear with him the crown, the very highest power which Helca
ever won; this shall ye rule before all Etzel's men."

Then spake the queen: "How might it ever list me to become a hero's
bride? Death hath given me in the one such dole that I must ever live
joyless unto mine end."

To this the Huns replied: "O mighty queen, your life at Etzel's court
will be so worshipful that it will ever give you joy, an' it come to
pass, for the mighty king hath many a stately knight. Helca's damosels
and your maids shall together form one retinue, at sight of which
warriors may well be blithe of mood. Be advised, my lady, ye will fare
well in truth."

With courtesie she spake: "Now let be this speech until the morrow
early, when ye shall come here again. Then will I give you answer to
what ye have in mind."

The bold knights and good must needs obey.

When all were now come to their lodgings, the noble dame bade send for
Giselher and for her mother, too. To the twain she said, that weeping
did beseem her and naught else better.

Then spake her brother Giselher: "Sister, it hath been told me, and I
can well believe it, that King Etzel would make all thy sorrows vanish,
and thou takest him to be thy husband. Whatever others may advise, this
thinketh me well done. He is well able to turn thy grief to joy," spake
Giselher again; "from the Rhone to the Rhine, from the Elbe down to the
sea, there be no other king as mighty as he. Thou mayst well rejoice,