Then they waked the many knights who still lay sleeping. The light of
dawn shone into the hall upon the strangers. On all sides Hagen gan wake
the warriors, if perchance they would fain go to the minster for
mass. Men now loudly rang the bells in Christian fashion. Heathens and
Christians did not sing alike, so that it was seen full well that they
were not as one. Gunther's liegemen now would go to church, and all
alike had risen from their beds. The champions laced them into such
goodly garments, that never did hero bring better clothes to the land of
any king. This vexed Hagen. He spake: "Heroes, ye should wear here other
clothes. Certes, ye know full well the tales. Instead of roses, bear
weapons in your hands; instead of jeweled chaplets, your bright helms
and good, sith ye know full well the wicked Kriemhild's mood. Let
me tell you, we must fight to-day, so instead of silken shirts, wear
hauberks, and instead of rich cloaks, good shields and broad, so that if
any grow angry with you, ye be full armed. Dear my lords, and all my kin
and liegemen, go willingly to church and make plaint to the mighty God
of your fears and need, for know full sure that death draweth nigh us.
Nor must ye forget to confess aught that ye have done and stand full
zealously before your God. Of this I warn you, noble knights, unless God
in heaven so will, ye'll never more hear mass."
So the princes and their liegemen went to the minster. In the holy
churchyard bold Hagen bade them halt, that they might not be parted.
He spake: "Of a truth none knoweth what will hap to us from the Huns.
Place, my friends, your shields before your feet, and if any proffer
you cold greeting, repay it with deep and mortal wounds. That is Hagen's
counsel, that ye may so be found as doth befit your honor."
Folker and Hagen, the twain, then hied them to the spacious minster.
This was done that the queen might press upon them in the crowd. Certes,
she was passing grim. Then came the lord of the land and his fair wife,
her body adorned with rich apparel; Doughty warriors, too, were seen to
walk beside her. One saw the dust rise high from Kriemhild's band. When
mighty Etzel spied the kings and their fellowship thus armed, how quick
he spake: "Why do I see my friends thus go with helmets? Upon my troth,
it grieveth me, and hath any done them aught, I shall gladly make
amends, as doth think them good. Hath any made heavy their hearts or
mood, I'll show them well, that it doth irk me much. I am ready for
whatever they command me."
To this Hagen answered: "None hath done us aught; it is the custom of my
lordings that they go armed at all high feasts for full three days. We
should tell Etzel, had aught been done us."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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