And he said, "Now counsel me, my kinsmen and my lieges, how we may order
this hightide, that none may blame us in aught; for only unto such deeds
as are good, pertaineth lasting fame."

Then answered Ortwin, the knight, to the king, "If thou wilt win for
thyself glory from the hightide, let now the maidens that dwell with
honour in our midst appear before us. For what shall pleasure or glad a
man more than to behold beautiful damsels and fair women? Bid thy sister
come forth and show herself to thy guests."

And this word pleased the knights.

"That will I gladly do," said the king; and they that heard him
rejoiced. He sent a messenger to Queen Uta, and besought her that she
would come to the court with her daughter and her women-folk.

And these took from the presses rich apparel, and what lay therein in
wrapping-cloths; they took also brooches, and their silken girdles worked
with gold, and attired themselves in haste. Many a noble maiden adorned
herself with care, and the youths longed exceedingly to find favour in
their eyes, and had not taken a rich king's land in lieu thereof. And
they that knew not one another before looked each upon each right gladly.

The rich king commanded an hundred men of his household, his kinsmen and
hers, to escort his sister, their swords in their hand. Uta, with an
hundred and more of her women, gorgeously attired, came forth from the
female apartments, and many noble damsels followed after her daughter.
The knights pressed in upon them, thinking thereby to behold the
beautiful maidens.