“Sister, if ever thou needest help of my counsel or sword,
What peril soever threatens, send thou word unto me;
Into the land of Etzel will I straightway ride unto thee.”
Then kissed she the lips of her kinsfolk, and they parted in love and grief;
And with kindly word and with hand-clasp friend of friend took leave,
The valiant men of Burgundia and Rüdiger’s cavalcade.
Then with the Queen rode onward many a high-born maid,
Even four and a hundred fair ones: in bright hues rainbow-dyed
Glistened their lovely vesture: broad shields upon either side
Went flashing down the highways on the arms of the Hun-queen’s train.