Unto Brunhild also / did they themselves commend
With willing service offered / and steadfast to the end.
Bearing thus fair greeting / the messengers thence did fare,
And prayed the noble margravine / that God would have them in his care.
Ere the messengers had fully / passed o'er Bavarian ground,
Had the nimble Werbel / the goodly bishop found.
What greetings to his kinsmen / unto the Rhine he sent,
That I cannot tell you; / the messengers yet from him went
Laden with gold all ruddy, / to keep his memory.
Thus spake the Bishop Pilgrim: / "'Twere highest joy to me
Might I my sister's children / here see in home of mine,
For that I may but seldom / go unto them to the Rhine."
What were the ways they followed / as through the lands they fared,
That can I nowise tell you. / Yet never any dared
Rob them of wealth or raiment, / for fear of Etzel's hand:
A lofty king and noble, / mighty in sooth was his command.
Before twelve days were over / came they unto the Rhine,
And rode into Worms city / Werbel and Schwemmelein.
Told were soon the tidings / to the kings and their good men,
How that were come strange messengers. / Gunther the king did question then.