and thought to fly. I will not rise from my seat for any
of them. It beseemeth us better to sit still. Shall I show honour to
her that hateth me? That I will never do, so long as I be a living man.
Certes, I care little if King Etzel's wife misliketh me."

Hagen, the overweening man, laid a bright weapon across his knee, from
the hilt whereof shone a flaming jasper, greener than grass. Well
Kriemhild knew that it was Siegfried's.

When she saw the sword, her heart was heavy. The hilt was of gold, the
scabbard of red broidered silk. It minded her on her woe, and she began
to weep. Bold Hagen, I ween, had done it apurpose.

Brave Folker drew closer to him on the bench a stark fiddle-bow, mickle
and long, made like a sword, sharp and broad. There sat the good knights
unafraid. They deemed them too high to rise from their seat through fear
of any.

Then the noble queen advanced to them and gave them angry greeting. She
said, "Now tell me, Sir Hagen, who sent for thee, that thou hast dared to
ride into this land? Wert thou in thy senses, thou hadst not done it."

"None sent for me," answered Hagen. "Three knights that I call master,
were bidden hither. I am their liegeman, and never yet tarried behind
when they rode to a hightide."

She said, "Now tell me further. Wherefore didst thou that which hath
earned thee my hate? Thou slewest Siegfried, my dear husband, that I
cannot mourn enow to my life's end."

He answered, "Enough! What thou hast said sufficeth. It was I, Hagen,
that slew Siegfried, the hero. He paid dear for the evil words that
Kriemhild spake to fair Brunhild. I deny not, mighty queen, that I am
guilty, and the cause of all the mischief. Avenge it who will, man or
woman. I will not lie; I have wrought thee much woe."

She said, "Ye hear him, knights! He denieth not the wrong he hath done
me. I care not how he suffer for it, ye men of Etzel."

The proud warriors glanced at each other. Had there been fighting, the
two comrades had come off with honour, as oft aforetime in strife. What
the Huns had undertaken they durst not perform, through fear. Then said
one among them, "Why look ye at me? My word was vain; I will not lose my
life for the gifts of no woman. King Etzel's wife, methinketh, would
undo us."

Another said, "I am of thy mind. I would not challenge this fiddler for
towers full of red gold, for much I mislike his fierce glances. This
Hagen, too, I knew in his you