"Such host he hath of warriors / who Christians are as we,
That beside the monarch / may care ne'er come to thee.
Yea, may he be baptized / through thee to Christian life:
Well may'st thou then rejoice thee / to be the royal Etzel's wife."
Then spake again her brother: / "Sister, thy favor lend,
That now all thy sorrow / thereby may have an end."
And so long they besought her / that full of sadness she
Her word at length had plighted / the monarch Etzel's wife to be.
She spake: "You will I follow, / I most lorn lady,
That I fare to Hunland, / as soon as it may be
That I friends have ready / to lead me to his land."
Before the knights assembled / fair Kriemhild pledged thereto her hand.
Then spake again the margrave: / "Two knights do serve thee true,
And I thereof have many: / 'tis easy thing to do,
That thee with fitting honor / across the Rhine we guide.
Nor shalt thou, lady, longer / here in Burgundy abide.
"Good men have I five hundred, / and eke my kinsmen stand
Ready here to serve thee / and far in Etzel's land,
Lady, at thy bidding. / And I do pledge the same,
Whene'er thou dost admonish, / to serve thee without cause for shame.