In scornful indignation made answer Hagen the bold: "And a goodly tale to my masters in sooth were this to be told, That doomed are we all mid the Hunfolk to pour out our lives in blood! Nay, show us, thou wisest of women, how we may cross this flood." She said: "If thou wilt not be counselled, if thy journey needs must be, Look yonder across the water; a hostel there shalt thou see. Therein a ferry-wight dwelleth: there is none else far or near." Thither impatiently turned he, to ask yet more and to hear. Yet after the wrathful warrior again the mermaid cried: "Too hasty art thou, Lord Hagen: a little yet abide {P. 211} Till thou have received instruction how thou shalt reach yon strand. Elsè named is the ruler of the marches of yonder land. Gelfrat named is his brother, a mighty man in fight, A prince in the land Bavarian. Count not the emprise light, If ye think to press on through his marches: of peril must ye beware; And for dealing with yonder boatman have ye need of heedful care. So grim is he of his temper, he will do a mischief to thee, If thou gain not the strong one's goodwill, and bespeak him courteously. To win him to ferry thee over, proffer him guerdon due. He is warder of this land's gateway, and to Gelfrat is faithful and true. If he come not unto thee straightway, shout over the flood a name; Thy name is Amelrich, say thou: a warrior good was the same Who out of this land was driven by the malice of his foes. Thou shalt so draw over the boatman by the lure of the name that he knows." Then bowed him Hagen the haughty to those weird women twain; But he sought no more of their counsel, and from speech did he refrain. Up-stream by the swirling waters close to the verge he hied, Till he marked where a little hostel stood on the farther side. Then Hagen his voice uplifted, and he shouted across the flood: "Ho! ferry me over, thou boatman," cried the thane in battle good, "And I will give thee an armlet of red gold for thine hire. Sore is my need of the crossing, and eager my desire." Now this ferryman nowise needed to ply, so rich was he. Right seldom a hire he accepted from whosoe'er it might be. And his servants were like to their master: haughty as he were they grown. So there stood Hagen unheeded still by the river alone. Once more so loudly he shouted, the whole stream rang again; For like to the crashing thunder was the mighty voice of the thane: "Me--Amelrich--ferry thou over! Elsè's liegeman am I, Who by reason of feud with foemen from thy land was enforced to fly."