"How," cried the valiant Gunther, "have I deserv'd this wrong, That what my noble father with honor rul'd so long, I now should yield to any, o'ermaster'd by his might? Ill should I show, that I too can bear me like a knight!" LXXI "I'll ne'er renounce my purpose," the fiery youth replied; "If through thy might thy country cannot in peace abide, I'll take on me to rule it, and what I hold in fee, If thou by strength canst take it, shall alike submit to thee. LXXII "Let thy broad lands and mine too be laid in equal scale, And whichsoe'er in battle o'er th' other shall prevail, To him let all be subject, the liegemen and the land." But Hagan sought, and Gernot, such purpose to withstand. LXXIII "To us 'tis little pleasing," Gernot made reply, "That we should lands be seizing, whose lords should slaughter'd lie That we may win unjustly; our lands are fair and wide; We are their rightful masters, and none they need beside." LXXIV Grim glar'd King Gunther's warriors (of gathering wrath the sign!) Among them lower'd the darkest the knight of Metz, Ortwine. "It irks me much," exclaim'd he, "to hear these words of pride. Sir King! by haughty Siegfried thou'rt wrongfully defied. LXXV "Were thou and thy brave brethren stript of those arms you boast, While he to back his quarrel should bring a royal host, E'en then I'd trust to teach him a humbler pitch to fly, And cower as low before us, as now he mounteth high." LXXVI Wroth was at this defiance the chief of Netherland. He cried, "Thou durst not venture 'gainst me to lift thy hand. I am a mighty monarch, a monarch's man art thou; Should twelve like thee resist me, twelve such to one should bow." LXXVII Then 'gan for swords call loudly the knight of Metz, Ortwine, The sister's son of Hagan, pride of his lofty line. It irk'd him that his uncle so long had silent stood. Bold Gernot interposing thus cool'd his fiery mood. LXXVIII "Ortwine!" said he, "be calmer; why thus to weapons run? To us the valiant stranger no such offence has done. We yet may part in kindness; I rede thee, wrath give o'er, And make a friend of Siegfried; this still were to our credit more." LXXIX "It well may irk," said Hagan, "all us good knights of thine, That this imperious wanderer e'er rode unto the Rhine. Such strife-producing journey were better ne'er begun. Ne'er had the kings my masters by him so evil done." LXXX Thereto straight answer'd Siegfried, fiercely frowning still, "If these my words, Sir Hagan, have chanc'd to please you ill, Be sure, high deeds of valor, you at these hands shall see, Deeds, that e'en less may please you here in Burgundy." LXXXI