We will give thee a thousand of our thirty hundred warriors; be
they thy court retainers."

Kriemhild then gan send for Hagen of Troneg and also for Ortwin,
to ask if they and their kinsfolk would be Kriemhild's men.

At this Hagen waxed wonderly wroth. He spake: "Certes, Gunther
may not give us to any in the world. Let others follow as your
train. Ye know full well the custom of the men of Troneg: we
must in duty bound remain here with the kings at court. We must
serve them longer, whom we till now have followed."

They gave that over and made them ready to ride away. Lady
Kriemhild gained for herself two and thirty maids and five
hundred men, a noble train. The Margrave Eckewart (1) followed
Kriemhild hence. They all took leave, both knights and squires
and maids and ladies, as was mickle right. Anon they parted with
a kiss and voided merrily King Gunther's land. Their kinsmen
bare them company far upon the way and bade them pitch their
quarters for the night, whereso they listed, throughout the
princes' land.

Then messengers were sent eftsoon to Siegmund, that he might
know, and Siegelind, too, that his son would come with Lady Uta's
child, Kriemhild, the fair, from Worms beyond the Rhine. Liefer
tidings might they never have. "Well for me," spake then
Siegmund, "that I have lived to see fair Kriemhild here as queen.
My heritage will be thereby enhanced. My son, the noble
Siegfried, shall himself be king."