Now did those thanes far-famous each from other turn, Hagen the Lord of Troneg, and Dietrich the Hero of Bern.
Then over his shoulder glancing did Gunther’s liegeman gaze
Keenly around for a comrade, and he marked him in little space.
For anigh Prince Giselher standing Volker he straightway espied,
Volker the viol-minstrel; and he prayed him, “Stand by my side!”
For well had he proved his spirit, how grim he was in fight,
And in all that a knight beseemeth a fearless warrior wight.
The lords Burgundian left they standing amidst of the court;
But the twain in the sight of all men strode with lion-port
Alone across the bailey, and in front of a palace wide.
They cared not who should withstand them, they faced all dauntless-eyed.
They sat them down on a settle before the palace-wall
Over against the windows and the doors of the Queen’s own hall.
On their mighty limbs was gleaming their royal-rich array;
And many an one who beheld them much marvelled who were they.
Many an one of the Hunfolk, as on wild beasts of the wold,
Gazed open-mouthed upon them, on the heroes haughty-souled.
And Etzel’s Queen through a casement beheld that terrible twain,
And the heart of Kriemhild the comely was darkened afresh with pain.
She thought upon all her sorrows, and she wept for grief and shame.
Then on the thanes, the liegemen of Etzel, amazement came,
As they marvelled what should have troubled the royal heart of the Queen;
And she answered, “The deed was Hagen’s, O good knights battle-keen.”
Hotly they answered their Lady: “What deed hath of him been done?
Lo, of good cheer we beheld thee and blithe but a little agone.
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Whosoever hath done thee a mischief, be he never so valorous,
So thou but bid us avenge thee, with his life shall he answer to us.”
“Unto him for aye were I bounden who avenged me on my foe.
What boon he may ask soever ready am I to bestow.
I bow at your feet in suppliance!” cried King Etzel’s wife.
“Avenge me upon this Hagen! Let him forfeit limb and life!”
Then armed them the valiant champions; sixty by tale they were:
For love of their Lady Kriemhild forth of the hall would they fare
And fall upon Hagen and smite him, the battle-dauntless lord,
And with him the viol-minstrel: all they were of one accord.
But the Queen looked on her champions, and marked their slender array,
And in wrathful indignation to the heroes did she say:
“From such manner of desperate emprise, I counsel you, refrain!
Ye be all too few to grapple with Hagen in battle-strain.
How valiant and mighty soever the Hero of Troneg be,
The man that sitteth beside him is mightier far than he,
Volker the viol-minstrel: a very fiend he is.
Ye may nowise meet yon heroes with so scanty a band as this.”
So when they had heard that warning, four hundred warriors more
Clad them in battle-harness. With longing exceeding sore
Was the heart of the Queen a-hungered for vengeance for her wrong.
Therefrom were the valiant champions into grim straits brought ere long.
And so soon as armed for the onset she saw her vassal-train,
To the warriors battle-eager the Queen spake yet again:
“Now tarry ye here for a season; stand ye still for a space.
With my crown on mine head yon foemen will I first meet face to face.
Hearken as I reproach him for the wrongs he hath done unto me,
This Hagen of Troneg, vassal of Gunther of Burgundy.
I know him so high-hearted, that his crime he will scorn to deny.
What shall befall him thereafter from avengers nought care I.”
Then the valiant viol-minstrel, the lord of the strings, was ware
Of the high-born Daughter of Princes, as her feet came down the stair
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That led from the palace-portal. Soon as he saw that sight,
Unto his warrior-comrade spake Volker the dreadless knight:
“Behold now, O friend Hagen, and mark as she draweth nigh
Who as guests hath bidden us hither with purpose of treachery.
Never so many warriors saw I follow a queen
With sword in hand drawing nigh me, and with faces battle-keen.
Of this art thou ware, friend Hagen, that to thee are they foemen fell:
Wherefore I give thee counsel, take heed that thou guard well
Thy life and thy knightly honour. I trow such rede is good;
For in very deed meseemeth they come in angry mood.
There is many a man amongst them broad-chested and stalwart of frame.
Whoso would keep life scatheless, betimes let him see to the same!
I mark how under their vesture glittering hauberks they wear:
What deed thereby they purpose I know not, neither care.”
Made answer in scornful anger Hagen the aweless man:
“Well know I, for my destruction is all their plot and plan;
And for this are the gleaming weapons that yon men bear in hand.
But for all they may do, shall I yet ride back into Burgundy-land.
Now tell unto me, friend Volker, by me art thou minded to stand
If these be fain to beset me, yon men of Kriemhild’s band?
Lo, by thy love I adjure thee, tell me thy mind herein,
And my love and my loyal service for ever shalt thou win.”
“Yea, of a surety I help thee,” the minstrel made reply;
“And though I beheld against us a king of the earth draw nigh
With all his knights about him, so long as endureth my life,
Through fear will I ne’er draw backward one foot from thy side in the strife.”
“Now God in Heaven reward thee, Volker, thou peerless of worth!
Though all these rise up against us, what need I more on earth?
If thou but stand mine helper, as now thou hast said in mine ear,
These knights have need to be wary of coming a step more near.”
“Now,” said the viol-minstrel, “rise we up from our seat
In presence of this King’s Daughter, as before us pass her feet;
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So render we due honour unto a high-born queen,
And by courtesy do we honour unto ourselves, I ween.”
“Nay,” Hagen replied, “if thou love me, in no wise do this thing.
Yon knights will be puffed up haply with vain imagining
That I did it of failing courage, and were minded to flinch from her face.
But I,—for no soul among them will I rise up from my place.
From such honour to her refrain we; it better beseemeth us so.
What, should I render her homage who hath set her to be my foe?
No, that will I do never so long as endureth my life!
What reck I of the malice of this King Etzel’s wife?”
Across his knees did Hagen in haughty defiance lay
A flashing glaive of battle, and with restless splendour-ray
A jasper shone on the pommel—spring grass were not so green.
Full well did Kriemhild know it, for Siegfried’s sword had it been.
She saw the brand, and remembered, and anguish it was to see.
Of gold were the hilts, and the scabbard all crimson broidery.
The olden grief was rewakened, and fast did the hot tears flow.
In sooth, with none other purpose had Hagen done it, I trow.
Then close to his side on the settle Volker the unafraid
Drew a viol-bow strange-fashioned, a mighty and long steel blade:
Yea, as a sword was it shapen, and keen it was and broad.
Thus sat these knights in the presence of a throng of their foes unawed.
Of such high worth they accounted themselves, that fearless twain,
For dread of any foeman never a whit would they deign
To rise from the place of their session. Now stood before them there
That high-born Daughter of Princes, and a bitter greeting she bare;
For she spake: “Now say, Lord Hagen, who sent a bidding to thee
That thou darest hither to journey to my land thus hardily,
Albeit full well thou knewest what deeds unto me thou hast done?
Hadst thou been prudent of spirit, into peril thou hadst not run.”
“Me?—no man hath bidden me hither,” with careless scorn he replied.
“Hither to this thy kingdom were three knights bidden to ride,
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And these same knights be my liege-lords, and I am their liegeman true.
Whensoever they wend to a high-tide, my wont is to be there too.”
She said: “This also tell me—why diddest thou that deed
For the which the hatred I bear thee is but thy rightful meed?
Thou, thou didst murder Siegfried!—my lord and my love didst thou slay
For whom I must n............