re. For I will contrive
secretly that he pay for Brunhild's weeping. Hagen is his foe evermore."

But Gunther said, "How meanest thou?"

And Hagen answered, "On this wise. Men that none here knoweth shall ride
as envoys into this land and declare war. Whereupon thou wilt say before
thy guests that thou must to battle with thy liegemen. When thou hast
done this, he will promise to help thee. Then he shall die, after I have
learnt a certain thing from his wife."

Evilly the king followed Hagen, and they plotted black treason against
the chosen knight, without any suspecting it. So, through the quarrel of
two women, died many warriors.

Fifteenth Adventure

How Siegfried Was Betrayed

On the fourth morning, thirty and two men were seen riding to the court.
They brought word to Gunther that war was declared against him. The
women were woeful when they heard this lie.

The envoys won leave to go into the king, and they said they were
Ludger's men, that Siegfried's hand had overcome in battle and brought
captive into Gunther's land.

The king greeted them, and bade them sit, but one of them said, "Let us
stand, till that we have declared the message wherewith we are charged to
thee. Know that thou hast to thy foemen many a mother's son. Ludger and
Ludgast, whom thou hast aforetime evilly entreated, ride hither to make
war against thee in this land."

The king fell in a rage, as if he had known naught thereof. Then they
gave the false messengers good lodging. How could Siegfried or any other
guess their treason, whereby, or all was done, they themselves perished?

The king went whispering up and down with his friends. Hagen of Trony
gave him no peace. Many of the knights were fain to let it drop, but
Hagen would not be turned from it.

On a day that Siegfried found them whispering, he asked them, "Wherefore
are the king and his men so sorrowful? If any hath done aught to their
hurt, I will stand by them to avenge it."

Gunther answered, "I grieve not without cause. Ludgast and Ludger ride
hither to war against me in my land."

Then said the bold knight, "Siegfried's arm will withstand them on such
wise, that ye shall all come off with honour. I will do to these
warriors even as I did aforetime. Waste will be their lands and their
castles, or I be done. I pledge my head thereto. Thou and thy men shall
tarry here at home, and I will ride forth with my knights that I have
with me. I serve