She bade the knight be seated, / which he did willingly.
Then spake the lovely maiden: / "It were a joy to me,
Could I the message-bringer / with gold of mine repay.
Thereto art thou too high-born; / I'll serve thee then in other way."
"If I alone were ruler," / spake he, "o'er thirty lands,
Yet gifts I'd take right gladly, / came they from thy fair hands."
Then spake the virtuous maiden: / "In truth it shall be so."
Then bade she her chamberlain / forth for message-money go.
Four and twenty armlets / with stones of precious kind,
These gave she him for guerdon. / 'Twas not the hero's mind,
That he himself should keep them: / he dealt them all around
Unto her fair attendants / whom he within the chamber found.
Of service, too, her mother / did kindly offer make.
"Then have I more to tell you," / the keen warrior spake:
"Of what the king doth beg you, / when comes he to the Rhine.
Wilt thou perform it, lady, / then will he e'er to thee incline.
"The noble guests he bringeth, / —this heard I him request,
That ye shall well receive them; / and furthermore his hest,
That ye ride forth to meet him / 'fore Worms upon the strand.
So have ye from the monarch / faithfully his high command."