er, that neither waves nor flood might do them harm.
Upon them many a goodly tent was spread, as if they still had both land
and plain.

From thence tidings came to Etzelburg, (13) at which both men and
wives therein were glad. Helca's meiny, that aforetime waited on their
mistress, passed many a happy day thereafter at Kriemhild's side. There
many a noble maid stood waiting, who had great grief through Helca's
death. Kriemhild found still seven royal princesses there, through whom
all Etzel's land was graced. For the meiny the high-born maiden Herrat
(14) cared, the daughter of Helca's sister, beseen with many courtly
virtues, the betrothed of Dietrich, a royal child, King Nentwin's (15)
daughter; much worship she later had. Blithe of heart she was at the
coming of the guests; for this, too, mighty treasures were prepared.
Who might tell the tale of how the king held court? Never had men lived
better among the Huns with any queen.

When that the king with his wife rode from the shore, the noble
Kriemhild was told full well who each one was; she greeted them the
better. Ho, how royally she ruled in Helca's stead! She became acquaint
with much loyal service. Then the queen dealt out gold and vesture, silk
and precious stones. Whatever she brought with her across the Rhine to
Hungary must needs be given all away. All the king's kinsmen and all
his liegemen then owned her service, so that Lady Helca never ruled so
mightily as she, whom they now must serve till Kriemhild's death. The
court and all the land lived in such high honors, that all time men
found the pastimes which each heart desired, through the favor of the
king and his good queen.

ENDNOTES:
(1) "Kiev" (M.H.G. "Kiew") is now a government in the
southwestern part of Russia. Its capital of the same name,
situated on the Dnieper, is the oldest of the better known
cities of Russia, and in the latter Middle Ages was an
important station of the Hanseatic league.
(2) "Petschenegers", a Turkish tribe originally dwelling to the
north of the Caspian. By conquest they acquired a kingdom
extending from the Don to Transylvania. They were feared
for their ferociousness and because they continually invaded
the surrounding countries, especially Kiev.
(3) "Tulna" (M.H.G. "Tulne") is the modern Tulln, a walled town
of Lower Austria, seventeen milos northwest of Vienna on the