Then Hagan thus made answer, "Naught has to us been done; But my lords have a custom, till three whole days be run, When royal feasts they visit, their warlike arms to wear; All wrong that may be done us, to Etzel we'll declare." XVI Right well heard Lady Kriemhild what Trony's knight replied. How bitterly the warrior under her lids she eyed! Yet, though the truth well knowing as a Burgundian dame, She would not to her husband her country's use proclaim. XVII How deep soe'er and deadly the hate she bore her kin Still, had the truth by any disclos'd to Etzel been, He had at once prevented what afterward befell. Through proud contemptuous courage they scorn'd their wrongs to tell. XVIII Then on went haughty Kriemhild girt with a mighty crowd, Yet swerve would not before her that pair of champions proud So much as e'en two hands'-breadth; that gall'd th' Hungarians sore. Perforce they press'd and jostled with the warriors through the door. XIX The chamberlains of Etzel therewith were ill content; They had straight the haughty strangers defied as in they went; But that they fear'd to do so their monarch's eyes before; Pressing enough and jostling there was, but nothing more. XX When serv'd was God as fitted, and thence would every one, Straight into the saddle leapt many a warlike Hun; The while around fair Kriemhild many a bright maid was seen, And full seven thousand champions begirt the stately queen. XXI Queen Kriemhild and her ladies now at the windows sat With the wide-ruling Etzel; well pleas'd was he with that. They would survey the tourney where knights their prowess show'd Ah! what stranger warriors in the court before them rode! XXII Thither too the marshal was with the yeomen come; The redoubted Dankwart had muster'd, all and some, The followers of his master, the flower of Rhenish ground. For the bold Nibelungers well-saddled steeds were found. XXIII Thither the kings came riding and with them many a man, When the good minstrel Folker to counsel this began, That they should joust together each in his country's mode. Thereafter in the tourney the chiefs full knightly rode. XXIV What so the warrior counsell'd gave all who heard content. A mighty press and clatter uprose incontinent. Into the court's broad circuit prick'd many a mighty man. King Etzel and Queen Kriemhild now to look on began. XXV There came into the tourney six hundred warriors fleet, Retainers of Sir Dietrich, the stranger knights to meet. With the bold Burgundians they long'd a course to run. Had Dietrich but permitted fain would they so have done. XXVI