How Werbel and Schwemmel brought the Message
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When to the Rhine King Etzel his messengers had sent,
With hasty flight fresh tidings from land to land there went:
With messengers full quickly to his high festival
He bade them, eke and summoned. To many thereby did death befall.
The messengers o'er the borders of Hunland thence did fare
Unto the land of Burgundy; thither sent they were
Unto three lordly monarchs and eke their mighty men.
To Etzel's land to bid them hastily they journeyed then.
Unto Bechelaren rode they on their way,
Where found they willing service. Nor did aught delay
Ruediger to commend him and Gotelinde as well
And eke their fairest daughter to them that by the Rhine did dwell.
They let them not unladen with gifts from thence depart,
So did the men
