he world could be fairer. Whom she taketh to friend may well be
comforted!"

He said, "Then woo her, Rudeger, in my name and for my sake. And come I
ever to wed Kriemhild, I will reward thee as I best can. Thereto, thou
wilt have done my will faithfully. From my store I will bid them give
thee what thou requirest of horses and apparel, that thou and thy fellows
may live merrily. They shall give thee therefrom without stint for thine
embassy."

Rudeger, the rich Margrave, answered, "I were much to blame if I took
from thy store. I will gladly ride, an envoy to the Rhine, at mine own
cost, and with what I have received from thy hand."

Then the rich king said, "When thinkest thou to set out for the fair
one? God guard thine honour by the way, and also my wife, if kind
fortune help us to her favour."

Said Rudeger, "Or we quit this land, we must let fashion weapons and
apparel, that we may win worship when we come before the princes. I will
lead to the Rhine five hundred valiant men, that when they see me and
mine at Burgundy, they may say that never king sent so many men so far as
thou hast sent to us, to the Rhine. And know, great king, if thou art
set on this, that she belonged to Siegfried, a right goodly man, the son
of Siegmund. Thou hast seen him here. Soothly, much worship might be
said of him."

King Etzel answered, "If she was that knight's wife, the noble prince was
of so high renown, that I may not scorn his queen. By reason of her
great beauty she pleaseth me well."

Then the Margrave said, "I promise thee that we will ride hence in four
and twenty days. I will send word to Gotelind, my dear wife, that I,
myself, go as envoy to Kriemhild." So Rudeger sent messengers to
Bechlaren to his wife, the high-born Margravine, and told her that he
would go wooing for the king.

The Margravine still thought lovingly on good Helca, and when she heard
the message, she was one part sorry, and began to weep, lest she might
not win such a mistress as afore. When she thought on Helca she was
heavy of her cheer.

Rudeger rode out of Hungary in seven days, whereat King Etzel rejoiced.
They made ready his equipment at the town of Vienna, and he delayed his
journey no longer.

Gotelind awaited him at Bechlaren, and the young Margravine, Rudeger's
daughter, saw her father and his men gladly. They got a fair greeting
from beautiful women.

Or noble Rudeger rode to Bechlaren from the town of Vienna, the c