asure and purchase horses and trappings."

Then spake the margrave Eckewart to the queen: "Since the day I first
became your vassal, I have served you faithfully," spake the knight,
"and aye will do the same by you until mine end. I will take with
me also five hundred of my men and place them in your service right
loyally. Naught shall ever part us, save death alone."

For this speech Kriemhild bowed her thanks; forsooth she had full need.

Men now led forth the palfreys; for they would ride away. Then many
tears were shed by kinsfolk. Royal Uta and many a comely maiden showed
that they were sad at Kriemhild's loss. A hundred high-born maids she
took with her hence, who were arrayed as well befit them. Then from
bright eyes the tears fell down, but soon at Etzel's court they lived
to see much joy. Then came Lord Giselher and Gernot, too, with their
fellowship, as their courtesie demanded. Fain would they escort their
dear sister hence; of their knights they took with them full a thousand
stately men. Then came Orwin and the doughty Gere; Rumolt, the master
of the kitchen, must needs be with them, too. They purveyed them night
quarters as far as the Danube's shore, but Gunther rode no further than
a little from the town. Ere they fared hence from the Rhine, they had
sent their messengers swiftly on ahead to the Hunnish land, who
should tell the king that Rudeger had gained for him to wife the noble
high-born queen.

ENDNOTES:
(1) "Etzel", see Adventure I, note 7.
(2) "Helca" (M.H.G. "Helche") or "Herka", Etzel's wife, is the
daughter of king "Oserich" or "Osantrix", as the
"Thidreksaga" calls him. In the latter work (chap. 73-80)
we read how Rudeger (Rodingeir) took her by force from her
father and brought her to Etzel to be the latter's bride.
On her identity with the historical "Kerka" of Priscus, see
Bleyer, PB. "Beit." xxxi, 542.
(3) "Rudeger of Bechelaren", or, as the name reads in the
"Thidreksaga", "Rodingeir of Bakalar", is probably not an
historical personage, but the hero of a separate legend.
Evidence of this is seen in the fact that he calls himself
an exile, though he is Etzel's mightiest vassal, with
castles and lands in fief. He may have been introduced, as
Wilmanns ("Anz." xviii 101) thinks, to play a role
originally assigned to Dietrich, who is also an exile.
Mullenhoff