“It is easy for him to give,” quoth Hagen. “He could not spend it if he lived for ever, for the hoard of the Nibelungs is in his hand. Would it came our way!”
All the court, both knights and ladies, were glad at their coming. The servants of the three kings were not idle, and started to raise the high-seats. Hunolt and Sindolt had work enow, for they were the sewer and the butler, and they arranged the chairs; to Ortwin, for that he helped them, Gunther gave thanks. As for Rumult, the chief cook, I ween he knew how to order his underlings. Ha! what meats they made ready against the feast, in their huge cauldrons and pots and pans.
The women too busied them, and saw to their robes, whereon they embroidered gold and bright shining stones, that, when they wore them, they might be well esteemed.
Thirteenth Adventure
How They Rode to the Hightide
Leave we all this work now, to tell how Kriemhild and her maidens journeyed from the Nibelung land to the Rhine.
Never sumpters bare such rich apparel. They sent many travelling chests on before them, and Siegfried and the queen rode with their friends and dreamed on joy—that was to end in deep sorrow. As needs was, they left their son at home. Also for him was the journey woeful: his father and his mother he saw nevermore. Siegmund, the king, rode with them, that had, certes, not been there, had he known what was to betide them. Never sorrow was worse than his for dear ones.
They sent forward messengers betimes, and a proud host of Uta’s kin, and Gunther’s knights, came forth to meet them. Gunther busied him to show his guests worship. He went to Brunhild and said, “How did Kriemhild welcome thee when thou camest first to this land? I would have thee welcome her even so.”
She answered, “I will do it gladly, for I have cause to love her.”
The king spake further, “They come to-morrow early. If thou wilt receive them, lose no time, lest they surprise us here in the castle, for never have I welcomed dearer guests.”
So she gave orders to her women to seek out goodly robes, the best that they had, and to wear them; the which, I trow, they did gladly.