Then Gunther the noble uplifted his voice, and aloud he cried: "The Hero of Bern hath wronged me!--from my vengeance where doth he hide?" Hasted to meet him Dietrich the Lord of Bern forthright; But Gunther's battle-prowess was worthy of such a knight: Not for his coming he tarried, but adown the stairway sprang. Clashed their meeting war-glaives with a passing-deadly clang. How proved soever was Dietrich in prowess of olden fame, Such madness of battle-fury now upon Gunther came, Unto such fell hate of his foeman was he stung by grief and pain, That men yet count it a marvel that Dietrich escaped unslain. So stalwart were these, so thrilled them the battle-spirit's power, That loud from their thunderous smiting re-echoed palace and tower. Hewing the hard steel helmets did the great swords whirl and swing. Ha, with right royal courage did he bear him, Gunther the King! But at last by the might of Dietrich he too was overborne: Men saw his blood fast flowing through the mail-rings shattered and shorn By the all-resistless keenness of the blade that Dietrich bare. Well had he warded him, Gunther, how weary he was soe'er! {P. 323} Then by the hand of Dietrich were the limbs of Gunther bound-- Though never should king with dishonour of bonds be compassed round; Yet he weened, if he left unshackled Gunther and Hagen the knight, They would verily slay all Hunfolk on whomsoe'er they should light. The Prince of Bern, Lord Dietrich, hath grasped him by the hand: In bonds to the hall hath he haled him where waiting doth Kriemhild stand. At sight of his affliction light grew the load on her heart; And she cried: "O King Burgundian, welcome to me thou art!" "For thy greeting," he said, "might I thank thee, O noble sister mine, If aught of lovingkindness lurked in that welcome of thine. But I know, O Queen, thine hatred and thy wrath-enkindled mood, And how little to me and to Hagen thy greeting bodeth of good." But the Prince of Bern, the Hero, spake: "O noble Queen, Never such peerless heroes made captive hath any seen, As thou, O Daughter of Princes, from mine hand now dost take. Deal gently with these, the homeless, for my lovingkindness' sake." She answered: "That will I gladly." So turned with weeping eyes Dietrich away from the heroes, famed lords of high emprize. But thereafter was ghastly vengeance taken by Etzel's wife: By her from the chosen heroes ruthlessly reft was the life. She gave command, and to dungeons apart those twain they bore; And these two friends were beholden of each other never more, Until she bare unto Hagen the head of her brother slain. Grim was the vengeance that Kriemhild wreaked upon these twain!