"Ill should ye do to deny me," said Dietrich thereunto, "King Gunther and thou Hagen; ye have done unto me, ye two, Yea, to my heart and my spirit, such passing bitter despite, That if now ye will make me atonement, it shall be but just and right. I pledge unto you mine honour and the faith of my right hand, That with you will I ride, your safeguard, back to your own home-land. As befitteth kings and heroes will I lead you--else will I die; And for your sakes all mine anguish in forgetfulness buried shall lie." "Require this thing no further!" his answer Hagen flung. "Good sooth, 'twere a seemly story to be told of the mocker's tongue That two so valiant war-lords had yielded them unto thine hand! What, man?--none standeth beside thee save only Hildebrand!" But Master Hildebrand answered: "Lord Hagen, God doth know-- This peace, which my Lord Dietrich now offereth to bestow, The hour may come upon you, ay, and perchance full soon, When gladly ye would accept it, but may not grasp the boon." "So low as to such atonement would I stoop," did Hagen cry, "Ere I in such craven fashion forth of a hall would fly As thou didst, O good Master, but a little while ago! I weened that thou couldst bear thee more bravely before a foe!" Then Master Hildebrand answered: "For that thing me dost thou mock? Who was it that sat all deedless on his shield by the Wasken-rock, When so many of his own kinsmen were killed by Walter of Spain? Of a truth, upon thine own honour there lieth many a stain!" "Peace!" cried the noble Dietrich, "such knights doth it misbeseem With words to rail on each other, as when old shrews scold and scream Hildebrand, I forbid it: speak thou here no more. A homeless knight, with sorrow enow mine heart is sore! {P. 321} Answer me, Hero Hagen," said Dietrich yet again; "What spake ye knights together, ye battle-eager twain, When a little agone in mine harness ye saw me hard at hand? Thou saidst that alone in battle against me thou wouldst stand." "Ay, no man shall gainsay it!" cried Hagen the void of fear: "I will prove it by mighty handstrokes upon thy body here, If so be that the Sword of the Niblungs unshivered fail not me. I am wroth that thou darest require us to yield us captive to thee!"