ladies vied in their attire. Giselher, the youth, was aught but
idle; he and Gernot and all their men received the friends and
strangers. In truth, they gave the knights right courtly
greetings. These brought into the land many a saddle of golden
red, dainty shields and lordly armor to the feasting on the
Rhine. Many a wounded man was seen full merry since. Even those
who lay abed in stress of wounds, must needs forget the
bitterness of death. Men ceased to mourn for the weak and sick
and joyed in prospect of the festal day, and how well they would
fare at the feasting of the king. Pleasure without stint and
overabundance of joy pervaded all the folk which there were seen.
Therefore great rejoicing arose throughout the whole of Gunther's
land.

Upon a Whitsun morning five thousand or more brave men, clad in
glad attire, were seen going forth to the high festal tide. On
all sides they vied with each other in knightly sports. The host
marked well, what he already wet, how from his very heart the
hero of Netherland did love his sister, albeit he had never seen
her, whose comeliness men praised above all maids. Then spake
the knight Ortwin to the king: "Would ye have full honor at your
feast, so should ye let be seen the charming maids, who live in
such high honors here in Burgundy. What were the joy of man,
what else could give him pleasure, but pretty maids and noble
dames? Pray let your sister go forth before the guests." To the
joy of many a hero was this counsel given.

"This will I gladly do," spake then the king, and all who heard
it were merry at the thought. Then bade he say to the Lady Uta
and her comely daughter, that with their maidens they should come