Rudeger rejoiced to hear it, and said, “Welcome are these guests—the high warriors that come to my castle, and that I so seldom have served heretofore. Ride out to meet them, my kinsmen and my vassals.”
Whereat knights and squires hasted to horse. All that their lord commanded they deemed right; so they served him the better.
Gotelind, that sat in her chamber, had not heard the news.
Twenty-Seventh Adventure
How They Came to Bechlaren
The Margrave went to find his wife and daughter, and told them the good news that he had heard, how that their queen’s brethren were coming to the house.
“Dear love,” said Rudeger, “receive the high and noble kings well when they come here with their followers. Hagen, Gunther’s man, thou shalt also greet fair. There is one with them that hight Dankwart; another hight Folker, a man of much worship. These six thou shalt kiss—thou and my daughter. Entreat the warriors courteously.”
The women promised it, nothing loth. They took goodly apparel from their chests, wherein to meet the knights. The fair women made haste enow. Their cheeks needed little false colour. They wore fillets of bright gold on their heads, fashioned like rich wreaths, that the wind might not ruffle their beautiful hair. They were dainty and fresh.
Now leave we the women busied on this wise. There was mickle spurring across the plain among Rudeger’s friends till they found the princes. These were well received in the Margrave’s land. Rudeger cried joyfully as he went toward them, “Ye be welcome, ye knights, and all your men. Right glad am I to see you in my home.”
The warriors thanked him with true heart void of hate. He showed them plainly they were welcome. To Hagen he gave special greeting, for he knew him from aforetime. He did the same to Folker of Burgundy. He welcomed Dankwart also. Then said that knight, “If thou take us in, who will see to our followers from Worms beyond the Rhine?”
The Margrave answered, “Have no fear on that head. All that ye have with you, horses, silver and apparel, shall be so well guarded that ye shall not lose a single spur thereof. Pitch your tents in the fields, ye squires. Whatso ye lose here I will make good to you. Off with the bridles, and let the horses go loose.” Never before had host done this for them. Glad enow were the guests. When they had obeyed him, and the knights had ridden away, the squires laid them down on the grass over all, and took their ease. It was their softest rest on the whole journey.