Straightway to the presence of Uta leading the twain he went. Glad was she to see the envoys from the land of the Hunfolk sent; And she gave to them kindly welcome with queenly and gracious mien, And the heralds courtly and loyal their message spake to the Queen: {P. 198} "My Lady," said Schwemmel, "biddeth that I commend unto thee Her constant love and her service; and if so it might haply be That she might oftener see thee, this of a surety believe, That in all the world no pleasure greater could she receive." Answered and spake Queen Uta: "That cannot now befall, Though fain would I oftener see her, my best beloved of all: Too far from us she dwelleth, that noble Queen, alas! Evermore upon her and Etzel all blessing come to pass! Send word to me--see that ye fail not--ere ye must hence away, When ye will go. I have seen not for many and many a day Messengers so welcome as now, when I look upon you." Then did the young men pledge them her heart's desire to do. So passed they unto their hostels, those knights from the land of the Huns; And the King to a council summoned his kin and his mighty ones. Then Gunther the noble questioned the heroes man by man Touching their rede of the matter; and many an one began Thus saying: "It were for thine honour unto Etzel's land to ride." This was the rede of the chiefest of them that stood at his side, Save Hagen alone; but hateful to him was the counsel of those. To the King he whispered fiercely: "To your own lives are ye foes! Surely thou hast not forgotten what deeds unto her we wrought! For us are the wrongs of Kriemhild for ever peril-fraught. I smote unto death her husband, even I with mine own hand. How should we be so hardy as to ride into Etzel's land?" Made answer the King: "My sister of all wrath emptied her heart: With kisses of lovingkindness, ere she turned from this land to depart, She sealed her forgiveness of trespass, whatsoever to her we had done. If she beareth a grudge, Lord Hagen, it shall be against thee alone." "Deceive not thyself," said Hagen, "whatsoever honied speech Fall from this woman's envoys! Come within Kriemhild's reach, And thou well mayest lose thine honour; yea, and thou stakest thy life! A memory long and relentless hath this King Etzel's wife." {P. 199}