At the last spake Hagen the stalwart: "There were reason enow for our wrath And the good knights' indignation, if he rode on the Rhineward path For nought but for this defiance--what ailed him to do this thing? Never so evil-entreated had he been of our lord the King." Then Siegfried the mighty hero flashed out all scornfully: "If that I have said, Lord Hagen, in aught misliketh thee, I will let it be seen of all men how ready is this mine hand To maintain my words to the utmost in the face of Burgundia-land." "Nay, this thing, I trust, shall I hinder," spake Gernot yet again; And he gave command to be silent unto all his mighty men, Howsoever they chafed, from saying one word that should chafe their guest. Mid the hush flew a peace-dove, a vision of Kriemhild, to Siegfried's breast. "For what cause should we battle against thee?" yet again did Gernot cry: "Yea, though a host of the good knights in the grapple of fight should die, Small honour were ours, small profit were thine, of such strife unmeet!" Yet again did the son of Siegmund, Siegfried, his challenge repeat: "Why linger they, Hagen and Ortwein?--why hang they yet aback, They and their friends, their champions, from the storm of the battle-wrack? And of all Burgundia's chosen is none to the combat stirred?" But they heeded Gernot's counsel, and they answered him not a word. "Our guest shalt thou be full welcome," the young lad Giselher cried, "Thou and thy valiant champions which wait hereby at thy side. {P. 18} We will joyfully do thee service, even all these friends of mine." Then they cried to the cupbearers, "Pour ye for the guests of King Gunther the wine!" Spake the lord of the land yet further, "Lo, all that was ours hitherto, Is yours, so in honour ye ask it; we will hold back nought from you. Yea, ye shall with us be partners in our goods and our very blood!" Then soft grew the eyes of Siegfried, and melted his angry mood.