Now hard on the hour of midnight, or earlier perchance, He marked, this Volker the dreadless, the gleam of a helmet glance Far away through the darkness. The vassals of Kriemhild were there, Full fain to have done some mischief to the sleepers unaware. (C) Now ere these were sent of Kriemhild to take the prey in the snare, She said: "If ye come on them sleeping, in God's name have a care That of all this company one man, and only he, be slain, Hagen the faithless traitor: your hands from the rest refrain." {P. 251} Then spake the viol-minstrel: "Friend Hagen, see to it now That we bear this burden of peril together, I and thou. Lo, in front of the hall in armour I see folk gathered near. If I may divine their purpose, they come to fall on us here." "Hush!" answered Hagen: "suffer that they come unto us full close. Ere they be ware of our presence, shall the helms of yonder foes With these good swords be cloven that shall swing in the hands of twain. In evil plight unto Kriemhild will we send them back again!" Then ware was one of the warriors of the Hunfolk suddenly How that the door was guarded. In haste to the rest spake he: "The deed that we had purposed, now doth fate forestall. I behold the viol-minstrel stand guard afront of the hall. He wears on his head a helmet whose splendour flames through the dark, As adamant hard and burnished, dintless withal and stark. Bright glow the rings of his hauberk, as fire that flashes afar; And beside him standeth Hagen. Well warded the strangers are!" Then backward they faltered: when Volker marked how they turned to flee, Straightway unto his comrade he spake full angerly: "Now suffer me from the hall-way to go to yon men in mail: I will speak with the vassals of Kriemhild, and ask of the night-tide's tale." "Now nay, an thou lovest me," Hagen answered, "thou shalt not so! If once thou leave this portal, yon battle-eager foe With onset of swords may bring thee right soon into such hard strait, That I needs must help, though our kinsmen thereby met an evil fate. For if we twain in battle were compassed by yon false crew, Haply some two of their comrades, or four, or ever we knew, Into the great hall rushing, therein might work such scathe On our slumbering friends, that we surely should rue it unto our death."