Made answer the hero Siegfried: "If Kriemhild hath said this thing, I will take no rest or ever she rue her slandering! Yea, and thereof will I clear me in presence of all thy lords By the faith of my solemn oath-plight, that never I spake such words." {P. 117} Answered the Lord of Rhineland: "Give that assurance thou. Let the oath that thou hast tendered be spoken before these now. So shalt thou of treacherous dealing be acquitted, and stand without stain." Then made they the proud Burgundians in a ring draw round these twain. His hand stretched Siegfried the dauntless to the hand of the King to swear; But Gunther spake: "Thine utter guiltlessness here I declare Out of mine heart's assurance. Thou goest of this charge free. That whereof Kriemhild accused thee never was done of thee." Then yet again spake Siegfried: "And if ever my wife reap joy Of her sowing for Lady Brunhild this seed of heart-annoy, This unto me of a surety shall be nought but measureless grief." Then looked on each other the good knights with faces of glad relief. "So must men's wives be governed," again spake Siegfried the thane, "That from all such arrogant speeches they may for ever refrain. Thou then to thy wife forbid them; this likewise to mine will I. For such overweening railing I take shame verily." But by reason of words once spoken fair ladies held them apart. And the Lady Brunhild sorrowed with such sore anguish of heart That in all her affliction afflicted were Gunther's vassal-train. Then went in Hagen of Troneg to commune with the Queen of her pain. And he asked of her what ailed her, that weeping he found her there; And she told him the shameful story. A grim oath straightway he sware: "For this shall the lord of Kriemhild to the uttermost atone, Or never hereafter joyance by Hagen shall be known!" Joined in their plotting were Gernot and Ortwein, Metz's lord. "Death unto Siegfried!" the heroes counselled with one accord. Then Giselher, child of Uta, did these into council take; But swiftly against their sentence the lad true-hearted spake: "Alas, good knights, now wherefore would ye do so black a deed? Never such ruthless hatred hath Siegfried earned for meed {P. 118} That e'er he should pay you forfeit of the precious life for this! By very nothings enkindled is the wrath of a woman, I wis." "Shall men say that we rear his bastards?" cried Hagen savagely: "It should bring right little honour unto good knights such as we! The name of our Lady belovèd hath he blasted with arrogant breath! If his life for the slander atone not, myself will die the death!"