When they had reached the castle, the time was very late.

Before King Ludwig’s palace, standing at the gate,

They saw the wicked Gerlind, watching there to meet them:

Soon as she saw the washers, with words of bitter scorn she ’gan to greet them.

[1275]

Thus she spake in anger: “What does this gadding mean?

Stripes upon your bodies you both have earned, I ween,

Thus upon the seashore, in the evening light, to wander;

For me it were unseemly into my room to take you, after loitering yonder.”

[1276]