by thee, and give thee silver and
gold for meed, and, thereto, a beautiful woman, the widow of Nudung, that
thou mayest have her to thy dear one. I will give the all, land and
castles, and thou shalt live joyfully with her on the march that was
Nudung's. In good sooth I will do what I promise."

When Bloedel heard the fee, and because the woman pleased him for her
fairness, he resolved to win her by battle. So came he to lose his life.

He said to the queen, "Go back into the hall. Or any is ware thereof, I
will raise a great tumult. Hagen shall pay for what he hath done. I
will bring thee King Gunther's man bound."

"Now arm ye, my men," cried Bloedel, "and let us fall on the foemen in
their lodging. King Etzel's wife giveth me no peace, and at her bidding
we must risk our lives."

When the queen had left Bloedel to begin the strife, she went in to table
with King Etzel and his men. She had woven an evil snare against the
guests.

I will tell you how they went into the hall. Crowned kings went before
her; many high princes and knights of worship attended the queen. Etzel
assigned to all the guests their places, the highest and the best in the
hall. Christians and heathens had their different meats, whereof they
ate to the full; for so the wise king ordered it. The yeomen feasted in
their own quarters, where sewers served them, that had been charged with
the care of their food. But revel and merriment were soon turned to
weeping.

Kriemhild's old wrong lay buried in her heart, and when the strife could
not be kindled otherwise, she bade them bring Etzel's son to table. Did
ever any woman so fearful a thing for vengeance?

Four of Etzel's men went straightway and brought in Ortlieb, the young
king, to the princes' table, where Hagen also sat. Through his murderous
hate the child perished.

When Etzel saw his son, he spake kindly to his wife's brethren, "See now,
my friends, that is my only son, and your sister's child. Some day he
will serve you well. If he take after his kin, he will be a valiant man,
rich and right noble, stark and comely. If I live, I will give him the
lordship of twelve countries. Fair service ye may yet have from young
Ortlieb's hand. Wherefore I pray ye, my dear friends, that, when ye ride
back to the Rhine, ye take with you your sister's son, and do well by the
child. Rear him in honour till he be a man, and when he is full grown,
if any harry your land, he will help