(4) Hagen bade the shield be
borne away.

Then Dankwart came to court. To him the margrave's daughter gave great
store of rich apparel, the which he later wore among the Huns in passing
lordly wise. However many gifts were taken by them, naught would have
come into the hands of any, save through the kindness of the host,
who proffered them so fair. Later they became such foes that they were
forced to strike him dead.

Now the doughty Folker went courteously with his fiddle and stood before
Gotelind. He played sweet tunes and sang to her his songs. Thus he took
his leave and parted from Bechelaren. The margravine bade fetch a chest.
Now hear the tale of friendly gifts! Twelve rings she took out and
placed them on his hand. "These ye must bear hence to Etzel's land and
wear them at court for my sake, whithersoever ye turn, that men may tell
me how ye have served me yonder at the feast." What the lady craved, he
later carried out full well.

Then spake the host to his guests: "Ye shall journey all the gentlier,
for I myself will guide you and bid guard you well, that none may harm
you on the road."

Then his sumpters were laden soon. The host was well beseen with five
hundred men with steeds and vesture. These he took with him full
merrily hence to the feasting. Not one of them later ever came alive
to Bechlaren. With a loving kiss the host parted hence; the same did
Giselher, as his gentle breeding counseled him. In their arms they
clasped fair wives. This many a high-born maid must needs bewail in
later times. On every side they opened the casements, for the host with
his liegemen would now mount their steeds. I ween their hearts did tell
them of the bitter woes to come. Then wept many a dame and many a comely
maid. They pined for their dear kinsmen, whom nevermore they saw in
Bechelaren. Yet these rode merrily across the sand, down along the
Danube to the Hunnish land.

Then noble Rudeger, the full lusty knight, spake to the Burgundians:
"Certes, the tidings that we be coming to the Huns must not be left
unsaid, for king Etzel hath never heard aught that pleased him more."

So down through Austria the envoy sped, and to the folk on every side
'twas told that the heroes were coming from Worms beyond the Rhine.
Naught could have been liefer to the courtiers of the king. On before
the envoys hasted with the tidings, that the Nibelungs were already in
the Hunnish land.

"Thou must greet them well, Kriemhild, lady m