earth were dearer to
her."

But the queen answered, "That cannot be. The noble king's wife dwelleth,
alack! too far from me. Blessed evermore be she and Etzel. Fail not to
send me word of your departure, when ye are about to return home. It is
long since envoys were so welcome as ye are." And the youths promised
that they would do it.

The Huns went to their lodging. Meanwhile, the great king had sent for
his friends, and noble Gunther asked his men how the message pleased
them. And many of them began to say that he might well ride into Etzel's
land. The best among them counselled him thereto--all save Hagen. Him
it irked exceedingly. He said to the king apart, "Ye strike at your own
life. Surely you know what we have done. Evermore we stand in danger
from Kriemhild. I smote her husband dead with my hand. How dare we ride
into Etzel's land?"

But the king answered, "My sister forgot her anger. With a loving kiss
she forgave us for all we had done to her or she rode away. Hath she
aught against any, it is against thee alone, Hagen."

"Be not deceived," said Hagen, "by the words of the Hunnish envoys. If
thou goest to see Kriemhild, thou mayst lose thine honour and thy life.
The wife of King Etzel hath a long memory."

Then Gernot spake out before the assembly, "Because thou fearest death
with reason among the Huns, it were ill done on our part to keep away
from our sister."

And Sir Giselher said to the knight, "Since thou knowest thyself guilty,
friend Hagen, stay thou at home, and guard thyself well, and let them
that dare, journey with us to the Huns."

Then the knight of Trony fell into a passion. "None that ye take with
you will be readier to ride to the court than I. And well I will prove
it, since ye will not be turned."

But knight Rumolt, the cook, said, "Strangers and friends ye can
entertain at home, at your pleasure. For here is abundance. Hagen, I
trow, hath never held you back afore. If ye will not follow him in this,
be counselled by Rumolt (for your true and loving servant am I) and tarry
here as I would have ye do, and leave King Etzel yonder by Kriemhild.
Where in the wide world could ye be better? Here ye are safe from your
enemies. Ye can adorn your bodies with goodly vesture, drink the best
wine, and woo fair women. Thereto, ye are given meats, the best on earth
that ever king ate. The land is prosperous. Ye may give up Etzel's
hightide with honour, and live merr