man. With them there
cometh one also, hight Dankwart; the other is named Folker, well beseen
with courtesie. Ye and my daughter must kiss these and abide by the
knights with gentle breeding." This the ladies vowed; quite ready they
were to do it. From the chests they hunted out the lordly robes in which
they would go to meet the warriors. Fair dames were passing busy on
that day. Men saw but little of false colors on the ladies' cheeks;
upon their heads they wore bright bands of gold. Rich chaplets (1) these
were, that the winds might not dishevel their comely hair, and this is
true i' faith.

Let us now leave the ladies with these tasks. Much hasting over the
plain was done by Rudeger's friends, to where one found the lordings,
whom men then received well into the margrave's land. When the margrave,
the doughty Rudeger, saw them coming toward him, how joyfully he spake:
"Be ye welcome, fair sirs, and your liegemen, too. I be fain to see you
in my land." Low obeisance the knights then made, in good faith, without
all hate. That he bare them all good will, he showed full well. Hagen
he gave a special greeting, for him had he known of yore. (2) To Folker
from Burgundy land he did the same. Dankwart he welcomed, too. The bold
knight spake: "Sith ye will purvey us knights, who shall have a care for
our men-at-arms whom we have brought?"

Quoth the margrave: "A good night shall ye have and all your fellowship.
I'll purvey such guard for whatever ye have brought with you, of steeds
and trappings, that naught shall be lost, that might bring you harm, not
even a single spur. Ye footmen pitch the tents upon the plain. What ye
lose I'll pay in full. Take off the bridles, let the horses run."

Seldom had host done this for them afore. Therefore the guests made
merry. When that was done, the lordlings rode away and the footmen laid
them everywhere upon the grass. Good ease they had; I ween, they never
fared so gently on the way. The noble margravine with her fair daughter
was come out before the castle. One saw stand by her side the lovely
ladies and many a comely maid. Great store of armlets and princely
robes they wore. The precious stones gleamed afar from out their passing
costly weeds. Fair indeed were they fashioned.

Then came the guests and alighted there straightway. Ho, what great
courtesie one found among the Burgundian men! Six and thirty maids and
many other dames, whose persons were wrought as fair as heart could