In many a day she had not heard a tale so glad. With her snow-
white hem she wiped the tears from her pretty eyes and began to
thank the messenger for the tidings, which now were come. Thus
her great sorrow and her weeping were taken away. She bade the
messenger be seated; full ready he was for this. Then spake the
winsome maid: "I should not rue it, should I give you as an
envoy's meed my gold. For that ye are too rich, but I will be
your friend in other ways."

"And had I alone," spake he, "thirty lands, yet would I gladly
receive gifts from your fair hand."

Then spake the courtly maid: "It shall be done." She bade her
chamberlain go fetch the meed for tidings. Four and twenty arm-
rings, set with goodly gold, she gave him as his meed. So stood
the hero's mood that he would not retain them, but gave them
straightway to her nearest maidens, he found within the bower.
Full kindly her mother offered him her service. "I am to tell
you the tale," then spake the valiant man, "of what the king doth
pray you, when he cometh to the Rhine. If ye perform that, my
lady, he'll ever hold you in his love. I heard him crave that ye
should give fair greetings to his noble guests and grant him the
boon, that ye ride to meet him out in front of Worms upon the
strand. This ye are right truly admonished by the king to do."

Then spake the winsome maid: "For this am I full ready. In
whatsoever wise I can serve the king, that will I not refuse;
with a kinsman's love it shall be done." Her color heightened
for very joy. Never was the messenger of any prince received
more fair. The lady would have kissed him, had she but dared.