SIEGFRIED (_leading KRIEMHILD away_). There's been no tattling here, as you shall see. [_Exeunt._] SCENE X HAGEN. Come, gather round and vote without delay The doom of death. GUNTHER. Hagen, what sayest thou? HAGEN. Have we not cause enough? There stands the Queen And burning tears are streaming from her eyes. For shame she weeps! (_To BRUNHILDA._) Oh, thou heroic Queen, To whom alone my homage I do yield, The man who shamed thee so must surely die! GUNTHER. Hagen! HAGEN (_to BRUNHILDA_). The man must die unless thou wilt Forego revenge and plead for him thyself. BRUNHILDA. I'll touch no food till judgment is fulfilled. HAGEN. Forgive me that I spoke before my king! I only strove to make the matter plain, Yet free decision is thy royal right-- So make thy choice between thy bride and him. GISELHER. Thou canst not mean it! For a trifling fault, Thou wouldst not slay the truest man on earth? My King! My brother! Say it is not so! HAGEN. Will ye rear bastards here within your court? I doubt me if the proud Burgundians Will crown them! Yet thou art the master here! GERENOT. Brave Siegfried soon will quell all murmurings, If we ourselves cannot perform the task. HAGEN (_to_ GUNTHER). Thou speakest not. 'Tis well. The rest is mine! GISELHER. In bloody counsels I will take no part! [_Exit_.] SCENE XI BRUNHILDA. Frigga, I tell thee he or I must die! FRIGGA. 'Tis he must die! BRUNHILDA. I was not merely scorned, But passed from hand to hand. They bartered me! FRIGGA. They bartered thee! BRUNHILDA. Too mean to be his wife, I was the price for which he bought him one. FRIGGA. The price, my child! BRUNHILDA. O this is worse than murder! And I will have revenge, revenge, revenge! [_Exeunt omnes_.] ACT IV _Worms._ SCENE I _Great hall._ GUNTHER _with his warriors._ HAGEN _carries a spear._ HAGEN. A blind man e'en can hit a linden leaf; At fifty paces I will wager you With this good spear to split a hazelnut. GISELHER. Why dost thou choose this day to show thy skill? We've always known thy arms would never rust. HAGEN. He comes! Now show me you can wear dark looks And altered bearing although none has lost His father. SCENE II _Enter SIEGFRIED._ SIEGFRIED. Ho, ye knights! And hear ye not The hounds give tongue, and hark! Our youngest hunter Impatient tries his horn! To horse! Away! HAGEN. The day is fair! SIEGFRIED. And have you not been told That bears have ventured in the very stalls, And that the eagles wait before the doors And watch when they are opened for a child That may stray out? VOLKER. Indeed that has been known. SIEGFRIED. While we were courting no one thought to hunt. Then come, and we'll drive back the enemy, And hack and hew him.