"Many are the haughty warriors here on the banks of Rhine, So keep peace for the present; such sure advice is mine; The match is too unequal, thirty at least to one; God do to them hereafter as they to us have done. XXXIV "Stay here, and in my sorrow be pleas'd a part to take, Mine and my lord's revengers, till day begin to break, And help me then to coffin my lord who there lies low." Then all the warriors answer'd, "Dear lady, be it so." XXXV In sooth it was a wonder that none can tell aright, How wept and loud lamented many a dame and many a knight, That e'en unto the city the rueful wail was borne; In haste the noble burghers came when they heard them mourn. XXXVI They with the guests lamented, for sore they griev'd as well. What was the offence of Siegfried, none of them could tell, For which by stroke so sudden the chief had lost his life. There with the high-born ladies wept each good burgher's wife. XXXVII Joiners and smiths were summon'd to frame a coffin strong, Beset with gold and silver, massy and broad and long, And braced with bars of iron to guard the frailer wood. Then all the crowd about it in dreary sorrow stood. XXXVIII And now the night was over; forth peep'd the morning fair; Straight bade the noble lady thence to the minster bear The matchless champion Siegfried, her husband lov'd so dear. All her friends close follow'd with many a sigh and tear. XXXIX When they the minster enter'd, how many a bell was rung! How many a priest on all sides the mournful requiem sung! Then thither with his meiny came Dankrat's haughty son, And thither too grim Hagan; it had been better left undone. XL Then spoke the king, "Dear sister, woe worth this loss of thine! Alas that such misfortune has happ'd to me and mine! For sure the death of Siegfried we ever both must rue." "Nay," said the mournful lady, "so without cause you do, XLI "For if you really rued it, never had it been. I know you have your sister forgotten quite and clean, So I and my beloved were parted as you see. Good God! would he had granted the stroke had fall'n on me!" XLII Firmly they made denial; Kriemhild at once replied, "Whoe'er in this is guiltless, let him this proof abide. In sight of all the people let him approach the bier, And so to each beholder shall the plain truth appear." XLIII It is a mighty marvel, which oft e'en now we spy, That, when the blood-stain'd murderer comes to the murder'd nigh, The wounds break out a-bleeding; then to the same befell, And thus could each beholder the guilt of Hagan tell. XLIV The wounds at once burst streaming fast as they did before; Those, who then sorrow'd deeply, now yet lamented more. Then outspake King Gunther, "I give you here to know, He was slain by robbers; Hagan struck ne'er a blow." XLV