The Lay of the Nibelung Men. Anonymous

a day

      May through four days change our raiment, and still go gorgeously,

      So that none, when we pass from her country, may scoff at our bravery.”

      With outpouring of thanks, from her chamber then passed they in knightly wise.

      Then to seek help of her women did Kriemhild the princess arise,

      And of all her bower-maidens thirty summoned she

      Which above all others were cunning in needle-mastery.

      On white Arabian samite—as the snow was its pearly sheen—

      And on far-fetched velvet of Orient, as the springtide clover green,

      Laid they the flashing gemstones—O rich was the vesture and rare,

      For by hands of Kriemhild the lovely were the garments shapen fair.

      Sea-otter furs and sealskins for lining thereof chose they,

      A marvel to all beholders—was never such rich array!—

      And with silk did they overlay them, and drew the seams with gold.

      Sooth, many a marvellous story of the splendour thereof hath been told.

      Out of the land of the Morians came the goodliest silk on earth,

      And from sun-smitten plains of Libya: on children of royal birth

      Was ne’er seen costlier vesture; and of these was enough and to spare.

      And through all the threadwork woven was the love that Kriemhild bare.

      For the costly raiment craved for by those far-voyagers

      She lavished with love ungrudging the ermine’s argent furs—

      Soft whiteness gleaming whiter for its flecks of coal-black hue—

      Such as valorous knights wear proudly in a great king’s retinue.

      Out of bezels of gold of Arabia the glorious gemstones gleamed:

      For those watchful eyes no smallest pearl too tiny seemed.

      So fashioned they all that raiment ere seven weeks fleeted away:

      And withal for the good knights ready by this was their war-array.

      Now when all at the last lay ready, men saw by the Rhine-river strand