A valiant knight was Etzel; his shield in hand he took. "Be wary," cried Dame Kriemhild: "to your good liegemen look; Fill shields with gold, to move them yon stranger to defy. Death must be needs your neighbor if Hagan comes you nigh." XIV The king he was so fearless, he would not budge an inch; Seldom are such great princes so disinclin'd to flinch. By his shield's thong his warriors then drew him back perforce. Hagan went on to mock him in accents loud and coarse. XV "I' faith the kin was distant," he cried with scornful sound, "That Etzel and Sir Siegfried in one alliance bound. He cheer'd fair Lady Kriemhild long ere she look'd on thee. Dishonor'd king and worthless! why knit thy brow at me?" XVI His proud disdainful mockery the wrath of Kriemhild stirr'd; To be revil'd of Hagan, while Etzel's warriors heard, And jeer'd before the many, was more than she could brook, So now yet deadlier counsel against the guests she took. XVII "Who Hagan, Lord of Trony, shall slay," she fiercely said, "And bring unto me hither his abhorred head, For him the shields of Etzel I'll heap with ruddy gold, And give him, too, for guerdon lands and castles manifold." XVIII "I know not," said the minstrel, "what now can keep them back; Sure never saw I warriors so heartless stand and slack, When a fair dame had promis'd such rich and ample pay. Etzel can trust them never if they should flinch to-day. XIX "Those who the bread of Etzel have eaten many a year, And, when his need is greatest, like cowards fail him here, These see I stand fear-troubled; they dare not move a jot, And yet would pass for warriors! shame ever be their lot!" XX Thus with distress and sorrow was Etzel ill bestead, Right bitterly bewailing his kin and subjects dead. Good knights of many a country stood round, a mournful ring, And for that bloody banquet wept with their weeping king. XXI Then thought the best among them, "Sure Folker tells us true." But none so inly sorrow'd of all that wavering crew, As the bold Margrave Iring, the fearless Danish knight; This soon he prov'd before them by deeds of manly might. THIRTY-FIFTH ADVENTURE HOW IRING WAS SLAIN. I Then loudly shouted Iring the Danish margrave strong, "I've shap'd my course in honor, and aim'd at glory long, And ever have in battle borne me like a knight, So bring me now my harness, and I'll with Hagan fight." II "That I scarce would counsel," in scorn Sir Hagan cried. "Bid the knights of Hungary stand farther yet aside, Let two or three together then leap into the hall, Back wounded down the staircase I'll dash them one and all." III