Then spake that Daughter of Princes to Burgundy's warriors all: "It fits not that ye bear weapons here in the royal hall. Commit them to me, ye heroes, and well will I ward them for you." "Of a truth," made answer Hagen, "that will we never do! I crave not the honour, O gracious child of a princely line, That thou to thy place of safety bear any weapon of mine, Nor shield, nor battle-harness--queen, well I wot, thou art here. Wisely my father taught me to ward mine own war-gear." "Ah, woe is me for the sorrows heaped on me!" Kriemhild cried. "For what cause now of my brother and of Hagen is this denied That I have their shields in my keeping? Of a surety, warned are they! If I knew what man hath betrayed me, his head for his treason should pay!" Then Dietrich flamed into anger, and swiftly answered he: "Lo, I am he that hath warned them, these Princes of Burgundy, And the King of the Rhineland's liegemen, and Hagen the unafraid! Make trial, thou child of the Devil, if the debt shall by me be paid!" Then quailed before him Kriemhild, and darkly she flushed with shame: For before the mighty Dietrich great fear on her spirit came. Straightway she went from their presence: no word to her lips arose, But one swift glance of hatred she flashed upon her foes. Stood face to face these heroes with hand in right hand clasped: Dietrich of Bern in friendship the hand of Hagen grasped. Then spake to the knight of Troneg that battle-mighty chief: "Of a truth your journey to Hunland is pain unto me and grief, Forasmuch as yon Daughter of Princes hath so revealed her hate." Answered him Hagen of Troneg: "We will put to the test our fate." So did the dauntless heroes each unto other say. King Etzel beheld them communing, and he questioned of them straightway: {P. 239} "Fain would I one should tell me," so asked of his men the King, "What knightly warrior yonder with such friendly welcoming Is greeted by our lord Dietrich. A lofty spirit he bears: What thane soe'er was his father, a goodly knight he appears." Spake of the train of Kriemhild to the King a certain knight: "Troneg is the warrior's birthplace, his father Aldrian hight. How blithely soever he bear him, a grim stark foeman he is. I trow, ere long shall I prove it, that utter truth is this." "Nay, how should I learn that the hero is in battle so grim?" he replied; For as yet had the King no knowledge of the snares of death spread wide Around the feet of her kinsmen by the Queen for revenge who yearned-- So wide, that back from the Hunland no man of them all returned.