garments which we may wear with honor before the high-born maid."

Hagen of Troneg spake then in lordly wise: "Wherefore will ye
pray your mother of such service? Let your sister hear what ye
have in mind, and she'll purvey you well for your journey to
Brunhild's court."

Then sent he word to his sister, that he would fain see her, and
Knight Siegfried, too, sent word. Ere this happed the fair had
clad her passing well. That these brave men were coming, gave
her little grief. Now were her attendants, too, arrayed in
seemly wise. The lordings came, and when she heard the tale,
from her seat she rose and walked in courtly wise to greet the
noble stranger and her brother, too.

"Welcome be my brother and his comrade. I'd gladly know," so
spake the maid, "what ye lords desire, sith ye be thus come to
court. Pray let me hear how it standeth with you noble knights."

Then spake king Gunther: "My lady, I'll tell you now. Maugre our
lofty mood, yet have we mickle care. We would ride a-wooing far
into foreign lands, and for this journey we have need of costly
robes."

"Now sit you down, dear brother," spake the royal maid, "and let
me hear aright who these ladies be whom ye fain would woo in the
lands of other kings."

By the hand the lady took the chosen knights and with the twain
she walked to where she sate afore upon a couch, worked, as well