ans."

Then said King Siegmund of the Netherland, "Wherefore has thou not told
me thou wouldest to the hightide? If thou hast naught against it, I will
ride with thee, and will take an hundred knights with me to add to thy
train."

"Wilt thou do so, dear father mine?" said bold Siegfried. "Right welcome
art thou. Inside of twelve days we will forth."

To them that desired it horses and apparel were given.

Since the king was minded to make the journey, he sent away the swift
envoys, and charged them with a message to his wife's brethren at the
Rhine, that he would come right gladly to their hightide.

Siegfried and Kriemhild (so runneth the tale) gave so much to the envoys
that their horses scarce sufficed to carry it, for Siegfried was a rich
king. So, well content, they drave their sumpters before them.

Then Siegfried and Siegmund equipped their folk, and Eckewart, the
Margrave, bade bring forth the best women's vesture that was in
Siegfried's whole land. They made ready saddles and shields, and to the
knights and the gentlewomen that were to ride with them, they gave
freely, that they lacked naught. Siegfried led many valiant knights to
his kinsmen.

The envoys hasted on their way, and when bold Gary was come into
Burgundy, they greeted him fair. The riders sprang from their horses
Gunther's hall. And young and old, as their wont is, pressed round them
and asked for news. But the good knight answered, "Ye shall have it when
I have told it to the king." And he passed on with his comrades to
Gunther.

The king sprang from his seat for joy, and Brunhild thanked them that
they were so soon back again. To the envoys spake Gunther then, "How
fareth it with Siegfried, that hath ever done well by me?"

And Gary answered, "He and thy sister waxed red for joy. Kinder greeting
sent man never to his friends than Siegfried and his father Siegmund send
to thee."

Then said the queen to the Margrave, "Tell me, I prithee; cometh
Kriemhild with them? And hath her body lost nothing of its fairness?"

Whereto Gary answered, "They will both come, and, with them, many
knights."

Then Uta bade the envoys to her presence, and showed by her questions
what most she desired to know--how it fared with Kriemhild. He told her
how he had found her, and that she would come thither shortly.

They declared also the envoy's fee that Siegfried had given them: the
apparel and the gold. All the knights of the three kings