Then her bitter weeping began afresh.
Rudeger desired nothing better than to see the queen. He knew himself so skilful in speech that, could it be at all, he must prevail with her.
Early the next morning when they were singing the mass, the noble envoys came. The press was great, and the valiant men that were bound for the court with Rudeger were richly arrayed.
Poor Kriemhild, the sad-hearted one, waited for Rudeger, the noble envoy. He found her in the clothes that she wore every day, albeit her attendants were in rich raiment enow. She went to the door to meet him, and received Etzel’s man kindly. With twelve knights only he came before her. They were well entreated, for never were better envoys. They bade the warrior and his men sit down. The two Margraves, Eckewart and Gary stood before her, but all were sad of their countenance by reason of the sorrowful queen; many fair women sat round her, and Kriemhild did nothing but weep; that her robe on the bosom was wet with hot tears.
The Margrave saw this, and rose from his seat and spake courteously, “Most noble king’s daughter, grant to me and my friends that are with me, to stand before thee and tell thee the message we bring hither.”
“Thou hast permission,” said the queen; “say what thou wilt, and I will hear it gladly, for thou art a good envoy.”
The others perceived her unwilling mind, but Prince Rudeger of Bechlaren said, “Etzel, a great king, commendeth his true love to thee, here in this land. He hath sent many good knights to sue for thy love. Love without sorrow he offereth thee, and the like firm affection that he showed erstwhile to Queen Helca, that lay upon his heart. Thou shalt wear the crown, even as my mistress did aforetime.”
Then said the queen, “Margrave Rudeger, none that knew my bitter woe would counsel me to wed another man, for I lost one of the best that ever woman had.”
“What comforteth more in grief,” said the bold man, “than true love? He that chooseth to his heart’s desire findeth that naught healeth sorrow like love. If thou consent to wed my noble master, twelve royal crowns shall be thine; thereto, my lord will give thee thirty princes’ lands that his strong hand hath overcome. And thou shalt be mistress of many worshipful men, that were subject to my lady Helca, and of many beautiful maidens, the kin of kings, that she ruled over. My master bade me say that, if thou wilt wear the crown with him, he will give thee all the high power that Helca had. Mightily shalt thou wield it over Etzel’s men.”
But the queen answered, “How could I incline my heart again to be a hero’s wife? Death hath wrought me such woe through one, that I must stand joyless till my life’s end.”