considered him to have been a mythical person.
Bechelaren, or Pechlarn, lies at the junction of the Erlach
with the Danube.
(4) "hast seen here". "Biterolf", 9471, relates that Dietrich
had carried Siegfried, when young, by force to Etzel's
court.
(5) "full soon". See Adventure III, note 4.
(6) "Paynim" (O F. "paienime", late Latin "paganismus"),
'heathen'.
(7) "gold for offerings". This was the gold to be used as
offering when masses were sung for Siegfried's soul.

ADVENTURE XXI. How Kriemhild Journeyed To The Huns.

Let now the messengers ride. We will do you to wit, how the queen
journeyed through the lands and where Giselher and Gernot parted from
her. They had served her as their fealty bade them. Down to Vergen (1)
on the Danube they rode; here they gan crave leave of the queen, for
they would ride again to the Rhine. Without tears these faithful kinsmen
might not part. Doughty Giselher spake then to his sister: "Whenever,
lady, thou shouldst need me, when aught doth trouble thee, let me but
know, and I will ride in thy service to Etzel's land."

Those who were her kin she kissed upon the mouth. Lovingly they took
their leave of Margrave Rudeger's men. The queen had with her many a
fair-fashioned maid, full a hundred and four, that wore costly robes
of rich, gay-colored silks. Many broad shields were borne close by the
ladies on the road, but many a lordly warrior turned then from her.

They journeyed soon from thence down through Bavarian land. Here the
tale was told that many unknown strangers had gathered there, where
still a cloister standeth and where the Inn floweth into the Danube. In
the town of Passau, where lived a bishop, lodgings were soon emptied and
the prince's court as well, as they hurried forth to meet the strangers
in the Bavarian land, where the Bishop Pilgrim (2) found fair Kriemhild.
The knights of the land were little loth, when in her train they saw so
many comely maids; with their eyes they courted the daughters of noble
knights. Later good lodgings were given the noble guests.

With his niece the bishop rode toward Passau. When it was told the
burghers of the town that Kriemhild was come, their prince's sister's
child, well was she greeted by the merchants. The bishop had the hope
that they would stay. Then spake Sir Eckewart: "That may not be. We must
fare further down to Rudeger's land. Many knights await u