"Enough of the slaying of Siegfried! His memory is not dead. So long as Kriemhild liveth may the vengeance-snare be spread." --So spake the noble Dietrich, the Hero of Bern, his rede.-- "O hope of the Niblung Nation, of her vengeance take good heed!" "Beware of my sister!--and wherefore?" proudly the King replied. "Etzel hath sent to us heralds--what should I ask beside?-- Bidding us ride to meet him here in this land as a friend. Yea, many a loving greeting did my sister Kriemhild send." "Hearken," again spake Hagen, "and so will I counsel you. Hear ye this story of Kriemhild, and let it be told all through By Dietrich the Lord of the Amals, and his heroes valorous: So shall the mind of Kriemhild be wholly revealed unto us." {P. 236} Then drew them apart the Princes, and spake together the three, Even Gunther the King and Gernot and Dietrich secretly: "O Knight of Bern most noble and valiant, tell us now-- Of the inmost mind of Kriemhild the Queen what knowest thou?" And the Prince of Bern made answer: "What other can be my tale Save this, that morning by morning I hear her weep and wail-- This Etzel's wife, Queen Kriemhild--with bitter and passionate breath Appealing to God in Heaven to avenge strong Siegfried's death?" "O'erlate is it now for repenting as touching this thou hast told," Spake Volker the viol-minstrel, the warrior ever bold. "Let us on to the court of the Hun-king, and let it there be seen What deeds shall be done of the Hunfolk to the warriors battle-keen." So on to the court went riding that bold Burgundian band, Bearing themselves right proudly after the wont of their land. Then many a valiant warrior of the Huns watched eagerly For the coming of Hagen of Troneg, what manner of man should he be. Known long since was the story to all folk, how that his hand Had dealt unto Siegfried the death-stab, to the King of the Nether Land, Of all stark knights the strongest, the lord of Kriemhild the Queen: Therefore the expectation of men to behold him was keen. Mighty of mould was the hero, as the soothfast songs declare, Exceeding broad in the shoulders and deep of chest, and his hair By this was a sable silvered; sinewy, long of limb, As a king was he stately in going, and his face as death was grim. Then all the thanes Burgundian into hostels did they bring; But the train of the squires of Gunther were sundered far from the King. It was done by the Queen's devising, for the hate that to him she bare. Slain ere long in their hostels all those henchmen were. Dankwart the brother of Hagen was marshal of all that train, And to him did the King commit them, charging him once and again To do his utmost endeavour for supplying of all their need; And he laboured with willing spirit, and served with diligent heed. {P. 237}