dow. If thus they both have sped,
Would you but permit her, she the crown shall wear
Before the knights of Etzel; this bids me my good lord declare.'"
_Nibelungenlied_ (Lettsom's
tr.).

Gunther gladly received this message, promised to do all in his power to
win Kriemhild's consent, and said that he would give the envoy a definite
answer in three days' time. He then consulted his brothers and nobles as to
the advisability of the proposed alliance, and found that all were greatly
in favor of it save Hagen, who warned them that if Kriemhild were ever
Queen of the Huns she would use her power to avenge her wrongs.

[Sidenote: Ruediger's promise.] This warning was, however, not heeded by the
royal brothers, who, seeking Kriemhild's presence, vainly tried to make her
accept the Hun's proposal. All she would grant was an audience to Ruediger,
who laid before her his master's proposal, described the power of the Huns,
and swore to obey her in all things would she but consent to become his
queen.

"In vain they her entreated, in vain to her they pray'd,
Till to the queen the margrave this secret promise made,--
He'd 'full amends procure her for past or future ill.'
Those words her storm-tost bosom had power in part to still."
_Nibelungenlied_ (Lettsom's tr.).

[Sidenote: The journey to Hungary.] After receiving this promise, Kriemhild
signified her consent, and immediately prepared to accompany Ruediger to
King Etzel's court. Eckewart and all her maidens accompanied her, with five
hundred men as a bodyguard; and Gernot and Giselher, with many Burgundian
nobles, escorted her to Vergen on the Danube, where they took an
affectionate leave of her, and went back to their home in Burgundy.

From Vergen, Kriemhild and her escort journeyed on to Passau, where they
were warmly welcomed and hospitably entertained by good Bishop Pilgrim,
brother of Queen Ute. He would gladly have detained them, had not Ruediger
declared that his master impatiently awaited the coming of his bride, which
had duly been announced to him.

A second pause was made at Bechlaren, Ruediger's castle, where Kriemhild was
entertained by his wife and daughter, Gotelinde and Dietelinde, and where
the usual lavish distribution of gifts took place. Then the procession
swept on again across the country and down the Danube, until they met King
E