and thrust them
all back. He was greatly wroth, "Ye would have me fail in honour toward
these knights! If ye had slain this minstrel, I tell you I would have
hanged you all. I marked him well when he slew the Hun, and saw that it
was not with intent, but that his horse stumbled. Let my guests leave
the tilt-yard in peace."

He gave them escort, himself, and their horses were led to the stalls,
for many varlets stood ready to serve them.

The host went with his guests into the palace, and bade the anger cease.
They set the table, and brought water. The knights of the Rhine had
stark foemen enow. Though it irked Etzel, many armed knights pressed in
after the kings, when they went to table, by reason of their hate. They
waited a chance to avenge their kinsman.

"Ye be too unmannerly," said the host, "to sit down armed to eat. Whoso
among you toucheth my guests shall pay for it with his head. I have
spoken, O Huns."

It was long or the knights were all seated. Bitter was Kriemhild's
wrath. She said, "Prince of Bern, I seek thy counsel and thy kind help
in my sore need."

But Hildebrand, the good knight, answered, "Who slayeth the Nibelungs
shall do it without me; I care not what price thou offerest. None shall
essay it but he shall rue it, for never yet have these doughty knights
been vanquished."

"I ask the death of none save Hagen, that hath wronged me. He slew
Siegfried, my dear husband. He that chose him from among the others for
vengeance should have my gold without stint. I were inly grieved did any
suffer save Hagen."

But Hildebrand answered, "How could one slay him alone? Thou canst see
for thyself, that, if he be set upon, they will all to battle, and poor
and rich alike must perish."

Said Dietrich also, courteously, "Great queen, say no more. Thy kinsmen
have done naught to me that I should defy them to the death. It is
little to thine honour that thou wouldst compass the doom of thy
kinsmen. They came hither under safe conduct, and not by the hand of
Dietrich shall Siegfried be avenged."

When she found no treachery in the knight of Bern, she tempted Bloedel
with the promise of a goodly estate that had been Nudung's. Dankwart
slew him after, that he clean forgot the gift.

Bloedel, that sat by her, answered, "I dare not show thy kinsmen such
hate, so long as my brother showeth them favour. The king would not
forgive me if I defied them."

"Nay now, Sir Bloedel, I will stand