So when in the Bernese champions no treachery might be found, Unto Blödel her faith she plighted, by oath and by handclasp bound To give him a fair wide lordship, which Nudung possessed of yore-- But ere long, smitten of Dankwart, he remembered her gift no more. She said: "O Blödel my brother, unto thee for help I call. My deadliest foes be gathered in yonder palace-hall, Even they which murdered Siegfried, my belovèd lord, time was. Unto him were I bounden for ever who now would avenge my cause." Unto her made answer Blödel: "Know thou, O Lady and Queen, In Etzel's presence I dare not let this hatred be seen So long as unto thy kinsmen he showeth his favour still. Never the King would forgive me, if I wrought them aught of ill." "Nay, fear not thou, Lord Blödel; thy friend evermore will I stand, And with guerdon of my silver and my gold will I fill thine hand, And will give thee to wife that fair-one who was plighted Nudung's bride, And in cherishing her beauty shall thine heart be satisfied. Her land withal and her castles will I give to be thine of right; So shalt thou live in joyance evermore, O noble knight, When thou shalt be lord of the marches that were Nudung's in days gone by: Yea, all that to-day I promise will I then do faithfully." Then seemed unto Blödel the castles and the gold a guerdon fair, And the witchery of beauty to his heart became a snare. Fain was he by battle-prowess to win that fair-one to wife: But foredoomed thereby was the warrior to cast away his life. He spake to the Queen: "To the feast-hall pass thou unto thy place. Ere these be ware of the peril, a tumult will I upraise. For the wrong he hath done thee shall Hagen make atonement at last, When this King Gunther's liegeman in bonds at thy feet I cast. Now arm you all, my liegemen!" to his vassals did Blödel cry. "We will forth against our foemen where in harbourage they lie. My Lady, the wife of King Etzel, constrains me to this assay. We must needs all set on the hazard life and limb this day!" {P. 261} So when from Blödel the warrior the Queen had wrung consent To make beginning of conflict, to the feast-hall thence she went Beside the great King Etzel, and their knights behind them pressed. A terrible doom for the strangers she purposed within her breast. (C) In what order they passed to the banquet unto you shall the song declare: Men saw great kings and mighty the crown before her bear; Yea, high-born princes many and thanes of high degree Before the Queen did service in great humility. (C) The King to his guests appointed their seats through the feast-hall wide, And the chiefest and noblest among them were nearest set to his side. For Christian knights and heathen were diverse meats prepared, Yet all to the full were feasted, for all in his wisdom he cared.