Belted unto his corslet was a broad bright battle-glaive Twin-edged, whose deadly keenness the shields of the mighty clave. Up-stream and down-stream casting for a ferry-wight sought he. Then heard he a plashing of water, and hearkened where it should be. And lo, in a pool fair-welling did mermaids plunge and swim To cool in the dimpling river each summer-fevered limb. Then Hagen was ware of the wise-wives, and stealthily nearer he crept. They saw him, and swiftly flashing far off through the ripples leapt. Laughed they for glee, as fleers that mark a pursuer outrun. Then seized he their raiment, but further scathe unto them did he none. Then cried unto him a mermaiden, and Hadburg had she to name: "Behold, we will tell thee, Hagen, thou knight of peerless fame,-- So thou wilt restore our apparel in guerdon for our rede,-- How thou and thy friends in thy journey to the land of the Huns shall speed." They swayed on the swaying water as birds that rock on the sea: And he thought on their weird foreknowledge, on the eyes that pierce the To Be; The gladlier therefore he trusted that their lips the truth would show; And answer they made, when he questioned of the thing that he fain would know. For Hadburg said: "Ye may safely to the land of Etzel ride. I pledge thee my faith in surety for that I have prophesied. {P. 210} Never hath journey of heroes to an alien land been crowned With such high honour and worship. True shall my words be found." Welcome and heart-uplifting did the word unto Hagen come: He restored unto them their raiment, and tarried no more therefrom. But when they had donned the vesture of the wondrous cloudy fold, Of the journey to Etzel's kingdom then first the truth they told. For now the second mermaid, whose name was Sieglind, spake: "Aldrian's son, thou Hagen, from me this warning take:-- False is the thing my cousin but to win her raiment saith. If thou to the Hunfolk goest, betrayed art thou to thy death. While yet there is time, turn backward; wisely so should ye do, Forasmuch as ye valiant heroes are but bidden thereto To the end that ye all may perish in the Hunfolk's land. Yea, whoso rideth thither, Death rideth at his right hand." Answered and spake to her Hagen: "This your deceit is vain. How should thy word be accomplished, that all we should be slain, And so through any man's malice dead at their high-tide stay?" Then to the knight the story did they clearly and throughly say. Moreover said one of the mermaids: "Thus is it doomed to betide, That none shall alive fare homeward of all in your host that ride, Save one, King Gunther's chaplain. We verily know this thing, That unharmed he only returneth to the land of Gunther the King."