Then spake the low'ring Hagan, "I know not why you moan. Our cares all and suspicions are now for ever flown. Who now are left, against us who'll dare to make defence? Well's me, for all this weeping, that I have rid him hence." LXXX "Small cause hast thou," said Siegfried, "to glory in my fate. Had I ween'd, thy friendship cloak'd such murderous hate, From such as thou full lightly could I have kept my life. Now grieve I but for Kriemhild, my dear, my widow'd wife. LXXXI "Now may God take pity, that e'er I had a son, Who this reproach must suffer from deed so foully done, That by his murderous kinsmen his father thus was slain. Had I but time to finish, of this I well might plain. LXXXII "Surely so base a murder the world did never see," Said he, and turn'd to Gunther, "as you have done on me. I sav'd your life and honor from shame and danger fell, And thus am I requited by you I serv'd so well." LXXXIII Then further spake the dying, and speaking sigh'd full deep, "Oh king! if thou a promise with anyone wilt keep, Let me in this last moment thy grace and favor find For my dear love and lady, the wife I leave behind. LXXXIV "Remember, she's thy sister, yield her a sister's right, Guard her with faith and honor, as thou'rt a king and knight. My father and my followers for me they long must wait, Comrade ne'er found from comrade so sorrowful a fate." LXXXV In his mortal anguish he writh'd him to and fro, And then said, deadly groaning, "This foul and murderous blow Deep will ye rue hereafter; this for sure truth retain, That in slaying Siegfried you yourselves have slain." LXXXVI With blood were all bedabbled the flowerets of the field. Some time with death he struggled, as though he scorn'd to yield E'en to the foe, whose weapon strikes down the loftiest head. At last prone in the meadow lay mighty Siegfried dead. LXXXVII When now the chiefs were certain that dead was the good knight, They laid him on a buckler with gold all richly dight, Then counsel took together the general to mislead, And keep the shameful secret that Hagan did the deed. LXXXVIII Then many said, repenting, "This deed will prove our bale; Still let us shroud the secret, and all keep in one tale, That the good lord of Kriemhild to hunt alone preferr'd, And so was slain by robbers as through the wood he spurr'd." LXXXIX "I'll bring him home, and gladly," said Hagan, frowning stern; "As to his wife, I reck not whether the truth she learn, Who slander'd gentle Brunhild, and wrought her so much ill. I care not for her weeping, do she whate'er she will." XC