"Now to whom," said that Daughter of Princes, "shall I commit my land Ere we go? Be a warder appointed by mine and by thine hand." Made answer Gunther the noble: "Summon thou hitherward Whomsoever thou pleasest: appoint him its governor and lord." Then the Lady looked on her kinsmen, and beheld one nigh at hand, And the man was her mother's brother; and to him gave she her command: "Now let my land and my castles be given in charge from this day Unto thee, till it please King Gunther to take them under his sway."
Out of the train of her vassals two thousand men chose she For them which should fare on the journey with her unto Burgundy With the thousand knights of the Niblungs that with Siegfried voyaged o'er. For the journey they made them ready: men saw them ride to the shore. Four-score and six fair ladies did she lead with her overseas, And withal a hundred maidens, and sweet to see were these. Now forth and away would they hasten; they would linger there no more; But of such as they took not with them many an one wept sore. In fashion as well befitteth a queen, so left she the land: She kissed her nearest and dearest at the last farewell by the strand. And so with fair leave-taking they launched on the northern main; And the ancient land of her fathers the maid saw never again.
Still as they voyaged, joyance made music through all the way: With manifold merry pastime they whiled the hours away. { P. 72} They were wafted on to the outsea by a breeze that followed fast; And so with mirth and laughter from land unto land they passed. Yet not upon that voyage would she be King Gunther's bride; But his bliss awhile must tarry until the bridal-tide In the Castle of Worms, at the stately marriage-festival, When with joy they should come with their heroes unto Gunther's royal hall.
IX. How Siegfried bare Tidings to the Royal City
Now when they had so sailed onward for nine days over the sea, Then out spake Hagen of Troneg: "I pray you, hearken to me: Lo, here we tarry from sending the tidings to Worms on Rhine; Yet by this in the land Burgundian should they be, those heralds of thine." Made answer to him King Gunther: "Of a truth good counsel is this; And to send as our tidings-bearer were none so meet, I wis, As thou thyself, friend Hagen; thou unto my land ride on. Our royal journey may no man better than thou make known." "Now nay, Lord King, of heralds nowise the best should I be. Let me as thy treasure-warder tarry still on the sea: Here will I bide with the women, and guard their costly array Till unto the land Burgundian we have brought them on their way. Not so; pray rather Siegfried to bear this message for thee: Well can he do thine errand with wisdom and courtesy. If he haply be loth for the journey, in kingly-courteous wise Entreat him in kindly fashion by the love in thy sister's eyes."