"Fain would I learn," said Etzel, "if any here can tell, Who is that champion yonder, whom Dietrich greets so well. He is a man of mettle as I can guess by sight; Whoever is his father, sure he's a peerless knight." XXXVII Then spake a man of Kriemhild's, "I'll tell you all I can. That knight was born at Trony, his sire was Aldrian. Though now he plays the courtier, he is a champion stern. That I've not lied unto you, Sir King, you soon may learn." XXXVIII "That he's so stern a champion, how can I ever see?" Of all the craft and cunning nothing yet knew he, Wherewith about her kinsmen the queen her toils had wound, That not a soul among them came back from Hunnish ground. XXXIX "Well knew I once good Aldrian; my man was he of yore. With me much praise and honor obtain'd he heretofore; 'Twas I, a knight who dubb'd him, and gave him of my gold. I could not but befriend him for true was he and bold. XL "So all that touches Hagan, I've known for many a year. Of old two noble children my hostages were here, He and the Spaniard Walter; here each grew up to man. At last I sent home Hagan; Walter off with Hildgund ran." XLI So thought the king with pleasure on what had happ'd of yore. His former friend of Trony he gladly saw once more, Who with high deeds of knighthood in youth had serv'd his ends, But in age spread wide destruction among his dearest friends. TWENTY-NINTH ADVENTURE HOW HAGAN REFUSED TO RISE TO KRIEMHILD I Then parted the bold couple, both hardy knights and stern, Hagan the chief of Trony, and Dietrich lord of Bern. Then, looking o'er his shoulder, King Gunther's liegeman eyed The crowd to find a comrade, whom in a trice he spied. II Folker, the skilful minstrel, he saw by Giselher stand, And pray'd him to come with him apart from all the band, For well he knew his fierceness and danger-daring mood. He was a knight in all things of dauntless hardihood. III They left the lords assembled where in the court they stood; Alone retir'd this couple of hardy knights and good, And cross'd the court far distant, and reach'd a palace fair. Of hostile spite or outrage naught reck'd the peerless pair. IV Before the house down sat they upon a bench hard by, Facing a hall of Kriemhild's; a fairer ne'er met eye. Bright from their stately persons their glittering armor shone. Each knight would fain have known them of all who there look'd on. V As on wild beasts, grim rangers of wood or dreary wold, The whispering Huns at distance gaz'd on the champions bold. Queen Kriemhild from a window espied them thus apart, And a frown o'ercast her beauty, and passion shook her heart. VI