I

When now the bold Burgundians had come into the land,
He of Bern soon heard it, the aged Hildebrand;
He told his lord the tidings; sore griev'd it the good knight;
He begged him the stout strangers receive as best they might.

II

Straight to bring up the horses quick Wolfhart order gave;
Then forward prick'd with Dietrich full many a champion brave.
Thence to the field to greet them; as friends to friends they went.
There had they pitch'd all ready full many a gorgeous tent.

III

Them riding thus at distance soon as Sir Hagan spied,
Thus he his courteous counsel unto his lords applied.
"Now every one, ye warriors, down instant from his seat,
And these, who'd bid you welcome, go forth yourselves to meet.

IV

"Well know I yon bright meiny, whom here we have at hand;
They are the choicest warriors; of th' Amelungers' land.
The Lord of Bern rides foremost; high-mettled chiefs are they,
So scorn not what fair service they proffer you to-day."

V

Then down from horse alighted, as fitting was and right,
With the redoubted Dietrich many a good squire and knight.
All to the noble strangers went forward hastily,
And courteously saluted the lords of Burgundy.

VI

Soon as discern'd Sir Dietrich how they to meet him came,
Now you would hear full gladly what words that chief of fame
Spoke to the sons of Uta; their journey griev'd him sore;
The truth, he thought, Sir Rudeger had known and told before.

VII

"Welcome, ye lords, right welcome, Gunther and Gernot true,
And Giselher and Hagan, the like to Folker too,
And ever-ready Dankwart. Do you not understand
That Kriemhild still mourns deeply the Chief of Niblungland?"

VIII

"Why, she will weep forever," Sir Hagan made reply,
"'Tis many a year, Sir Dietrich, since he was done to die.
She now has got King Etzel; of love she cannot lack;
Siegfried is dead and buried, and never can come back."

IX

"Just now let us, I prithee, leave Siegfried's wounds alone,"
The Lord of Bern, Sir Dietrich, replied in earnest tone,
"As long as lives Dame Kriemhild there's fear of mortal ill.
Trust of the Nibelungers! watch and be wary still."

X

"Why watch, and why be wary?" the lofty king replied.
"Etzel sent us envoys (what should I ask beside?)
To say, that with our visit he would be well content;
And by them many a message my sister Kriemhild sent."

XI

"To my advice," said Hagan, "I pray you, now give ear.
Entreat our friend Sir Dietrich and his good warriors here,
Of their suspicious tidings the utmost scope to show,
That we may come more fully Dame Kriemhild's mind to know."

XII

Then the three kings, retiring, to separate converse drew,
Gunther and Gernot and good Sir Dietrich, too.
"Now tell us, we beseech thee, right noble Knight of Bern,
How thou hast been able Queen Kriemhild's mind to learn."

XIII

The Lord of Bern thus answer'd, "What have I now to say?
I hear the wife of Etzel every break of day
To the great God of heaven sob out her dreary tale,
And for the loss of Siegfried yet ever weep and wail."

XIV

"What's done can ne'er be undone," spoke out the minstrel bold,
The death-defying Folker, "for all we've just been told.
So to court let's onward, and manfully abide
Whate'er may us stout champions among the Huns betide."

XV

So the bold Burgundians to court thence took their way
After their country's fashion in pomp and proud array.
Many a stout knight of Hungary among the gazers came
To look on Tronian Hagan, and mark his warrior frame.

XVI

Of him among the courtiers were rumors not a few,
That he it was who Siegfried, the Netherlander, slew,
The strongest of all champions, Dame Kriemhild's husband bold.
Hence much was there among them of Hagan ask'd and told.

XVII

Well grown and well compacted was that redoubted guest;
Long were his legs and sinewy, and deep and broad his chest.
His hair, that once was sable, with gray was dash'd of late,
And terrible his visage, and lordly was his gait.

XVIII

And now the bold Burgundians with shelter were supplied.
The knights were lodg'd together, the rest were sunder'd wide.
Through Kriemhild's hate to Gunther was plann'd this subtle train,
That easier in their quarters the yeomen might be slain.

XIX

Dankwart was the marshal, Hagan's brother brave;
The charge of the stout yeomen to him King Gunther gave,
That all might well be tended, and each might have his fill.
The Chief of the Burgundians bore all his train good will.

XX

Kriemhild the lovely with all her meiny went,
Where she the Nibelungers receiv'd with false intent.
She took her brother Giselher and took him by the hand.
That seeing drew Sir Hagan more tight his helmet's band.

XXI

"Sure after such a welcome," thus Hagan sternly spake,
"Methinks for men of action 'twere fitting, thought to take.
Greeting kings and subjects in such a different guise!—
I fear our journey hither will hardly pass for wise."

XXII

"To those who fain would see you," said Kriemhild, "welcome be;
Look not for friendly greeting for your own sake from me.
But tell me what you've brought me from Worms beyond the Rhine,
That you so warm a welcome should find from me or mine."

XXIII

"Why these words, my lady?" said Hagan, "what's their drift?
That all these knights from Rhineland should bring you each a gift?
I knew you were so wealthy, and liv'd so royally,
I need not bring you presents as far as Hungary.

XXIV

"Then with this one plain question your memory I must goad.
The Nibelungers' treasure—where have you that bestow'd?
That was my own possession as well you understand.
'Twas that you should have brought me hither to Etzel's land."

XXV

"I' faith, my lady Kriemhild, 'tis now full many a day
Since in my power the treasure of the Nibelungers lay.
In the Rhine my lords bade sink it; I did their bidding fain,
And in the Rhine, I warrant, till doomsday 'twill remain."

XXVI

Then thus the queen made answer, "That was just what I thought.
Little of it, ay, little have you hither brought,
Though 'twas my own, unquestion'd to keep or give away.
I've had for it much sorrow and many a dreary day."

XXVII

"The devil a hoard I bring you," said Hagan, the stern knight;
"I've quite enough to carry in my mailcoat bright
And in my trusty buckler; my hand must wield the sword,
My head support the helmet;—how could I bring your hoard?"

XXVIII

"Think not I stir this matter because for gold I care;
To give have I such plenty, your gifts I well can spare.
One murder and two robberies! I have been beggar'd thrice
For these to the last farthing poor I demand the price."

XXIX

Then the Queen of Hungary bespake the warriors all;
"No weapons may be carried, ye knights, into the hall.
I'll have them kept in safety, so give them up to me."
"In truth," replied Sir Hagan, "that shall never be.

XXX

"I long not for the honor that a queen so great and fair
My shield and other armor should to my quarters bear.
Not so my father taught me; ever of old said he,
Let none but thou, son Hagan, thy armor-bearer be."

XXXI

"Oh! woe is me unhappy," burst Dame Kriemhild out,
"My brethren here and Hagan, why should they shrink and doubt?
Not trust me with their bucklers?—they have been warn'd, I see;
If I but knew who did it, death should be his fee."

XXXII

Thereto, inflam'd with anger, return'd Sir Dietrich brave,
"'Twas I that the warning to the noble princes gave,
And to their liegeman Hagan, to whom such hate thou bear'st.
Now up, she-fiend! be doing, and harm me if thou dar'st!"

XXXIII

Deep blush'd the wife of Etzel for anger and for shame;
Much she fear'd Sir Dietrich, that vengeance-breathing dame;
Nor word she spake, but, turning, with many a sharp, quick glance
Ever as thence she parted glared on her foes askance.

XXXIV

Then two clasp'd hands as frankly as brother does with brother;
The one was good Sir Dietrich, Sir Hagan was the other.
Then spoke the lofty Berner with courteous words and true;
"In sooth your coming hither right bitterly I rue,

XXXV

"Through that which with such malice the vengeful queen let fall."
Straight answered he of Trony, "'Faith, there's a cure for all."
Such words unto his fellow spoke either mighty man.
King Etzel had observ'd them, and thus to ask began.

XXXVI

"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.