"Whate'er is to befall us, let it quick be done; 'Gainst such a host of warriors hope can we cherish none. Scarce can we fight o'erwearied, much less attempt to fly. How long will you compel us to pant and struggle ere we die?" XIX Then would the knights of Etzel their wish have granted straight, And let come out the strangers before the palace gate. Wroth thereat was Kriemhild; she had heard it soon. Quickly to the strangers was denied the boon. XX "No! no! Hungarian heroes! My counsel take for true, And grant them not their longing; beware of what you do; Ne'er let those bloody murderers come out from yonder hall, Or surely must your kinsmen endure a deadly fall. XXI "Were none of them yet living but Uta's children there, My high-descended brothers, if once they got fresh air To cool their heated harness, you'd one and all be lost; The world has no such warriors; you'd learn it to your cost." XXII Then spake the youthful Giselher, "Fairest sister mine, I little ween'd thy summons call'd me o'er the Rhine, In this net of treason and mortal strait to lie. How here of these Hungarians have I deserved to die? XXIII "To thee true was I ever; I never did thee wrong; Loving and confiding I hither came along, For thou, I thought, dear sister, didst bear like love to me. Oh! look on us with kindness! what else should we expect from thee?" XXIV "Talk not to me of kindness! Unkind is all my thought. Against me he of Trony such grievous wrong has wrought, Never can I forgive it as long as I have life; For that you all must suffer," said Etzel's furious wife. XXV "Yet would you to me Hagan up for a prisoner give, No longer I'd refuse you, but fain would let you live, For you're indeed my brethren, all of one mother sprung; Then of the fit atonement I'd speak these lords among." XXVI "Now God in heaven forbid it!" Sir Gernot proudly said; "Were there a thousand of us, we'd rather all lie dead, All thy noble kinsmen, than e'er that only one Give up to thee a captive; no! that can ne'er be done." XXVII "So we must die," said Giselher, "'scape can we never hence; Still valiantly and knightly we'll stand on our defence, Let him then, who would prove us, do now his worst endeavor; I never friend abandoned, nor will abandon ever." XXVIII Then, scorning longer silence, cried Dankwart void of fear, "Ay! my good brother Hagan stands not lonely here. They who peace deny us, shall soon their anger rue. We'll teach you bitter knowledge; take these my words for true." XXIX Then spake the queen, "Brave warriors, this hour to you belongs; Up! closer to the staircase! take vengeance for my wrongs! What thrift requites good service, I'll show you well to-day. The insolence of Hagan I will in full repay. XXX