To her comely maidens which waited on their Lady in her bower.
Then her most loving service graciously tendered the Queen.
“Lo, this of my message remaineth,” spake on that warrior keen,
“Touching that which the King desireth when he meets you by Rhine-flood’s side:
If herein ye will do his pleasure, in his love shall ye ever abide.
His noble guests receive ye—for this his petition is—
With loving and courteous welcome; and he earnestly asketh this,
That ye ride forth all to meet him from Worms by the Rhine-stream shore.
This is the kindness that Gunther by your love and your faith doth implore.”
“Even that will I do right gladly,” the Fair One made reply: