ever help them bear it in duty bound, until their foes must rue
my serviceú"

Then spake the Margrave Gere, a right good knight: "They are in
every virtue of such right high mood, that they do bid you to a
feasting by the Rhine. They would fain see you, as ye may not
doubt, and they do beg my lady that she come with you, when the
winter hath taken an end. They would see you before the next
Midsummer's Day."

Quoth the stalwart Siegfried: "That might hardly hap."

Then answered Gere from the Burgundian land: "Your mother Uta,
Gernot, and Giselher have charged you, that ye refuse them not.
I hear daily wail, that ye do live so far away. My Lady Brunhild
and all her maids be fain of the tidings, if that might be that
they should see you again; this would raise their spirits high."
These tidings thought fair Kriemhild good.

Gere was of their kin; the host bade him be seated and had wine
poured out for the guests; no longer did they tarry. Now
Siegmund was come to where he saw the messengers. The lord said
to the Burgundians in friendly wise: "Be welcome, Sir Knights, ye
men of Gunther. Sith now Siegfried, my son, hath won Kriemhild
to wife, one should see you more often here in this our land, if
ye would show your kinship."

They answered that they would gladly come, when so he would. Of
their weariness they were cased with joyous pastime. Men bade
the messengers be seated and brought them food, of which