"Ah! had I ne'er betrayed him, but still his secret kept, I had not now, poor widow! thus lamentably wept. But ne'er will I forgive them, who this foul deed have done." Then the stout knight, young Giselher, to intercede begun. XIII "Ay," said she, "I must greet him, you press and urge me so; The more your fault and folly; such bitterness of woe Hath the king brought upon me with no guilt on my part; My mouth it may forgive him, but never will my heart." XIV "Matters may mend hereafter," her kin said with one voice, "What if his future kindness should make her yet rejoice?" "Needs must he," said good Gernot, "make up for former ill." "See!" said the sorrow-laden, "I'll do what'er you will. XV "Yes! I will greet King Gunther." She scarce had given consent When with his best friends Gunther unto his sister went. Yet durst not stern Hagan before the mourner go. He knew himself blood-guilty, he had wrought her mortal woe. XVI When she had pardon'd Gunther all that had pass'd amiss, He thought it fitting kindness the gentle dame to kiss. Had he the deed not counselled which all that ill had wrought, With freedom oft and boldness her presence he had sought. XVII Sure ne'er was reconcilement 'twixt friends too long apart By such full tears cemented; her loss she took to heart, Yet all concern'd she pardon'd, all, save only one. Never had been the murder, if not by Hagan done. XVIII 'Twas no long time thereafter when this device they wrought, That from the land of Nibelung should to the Rhine be brought By the command of Kriemhild the wondrous treasure bright; 'Twas her morning-gift at marriage and so was hers by right. XIX For it the youthful Giselher and eke good Gernot went; Eighty hundred warriors with them their sister sent, To bring it from the mountain, where close conceal'd it lay, Watch'd by the stout dwarf Albric and his best friends alway. XX When now came the Burgundians the precious hoard to take, Albric, the faithful keeper, thus his friends bespake: "This far renowned treasure we can't withhold, I ween, The marriage-morning present claim'd by the noble queen. XXI "Yet should they have it never, nor should we thus be cross'd, Had we not the good cloud-cloak to our misfortune lost Together with Sir Siegfried, who gain'd it here of yore; For Kriemhild's noble husband the same at all times wore. XXII "Now ill, alas! has happ'd it to Siegfried the good knight, That from us the cloud-cloak he took by conquering might, And all this land to serve him as lord and master bound." Then went the chamberlain sadly, where soon the keys he found. XXIII