XIII
Then Rudeger made answer, "Ere this land we quit,
With weapons and with raiment our band we out must fit,
That we before the princes in splendor due may shine.
Five hundred stately warriors I'll lead unto the Rhine;
XIV
"That, when the stout Burgundians me and mine shall see,
It by all beholders at once confess'd shall be,
That ne'er despatch'd a monarch, on distant wooing bent,
A band more choice and numerous than thou to Rhine hast sent.
XV
"And, noble king, remember whom thou desir'st to wed;
The first of martial champions, Sir Siegfried, shar'd her bed,
The son of royal Siegmund; thou hast seen him here before;
From all, the highest honors, and well deserv'd, he bore."
XVI
Then replied King Etzel, "If she was Siegfried's wife,
So honor'd was her husband, while he was yet in life,
That at my hands his consort will meet true love and care.
Heaven grant that I may find her as gracious as she's fair!"
XVII
Then spake the noble margrave, "Thus then at once I say,
We'll fix for our departure the four and twentieth day.
Straight to my dear wife Gotelind I'll send to let her know,
That on this quest for Kriemhild I must in person go."