you to avenge it." Kriemhild, the
wife of Etzel, heard all that the king said.

Hagen answered, "If he grow to be a man, he may well help these knights.
But he hath a weakly look. Methinketh I shall seldom go to Ortlieb's
court."

The king eyed Hagen sternly, for his word irked him. Albeit he answered
not again, he was troubled, and heavy of his cheer. Hagen was no friend
to merriment.

The king and his liegemen misliked sore what Hagen had said of the child,
and were wroth that they must bear it. They knew not yet what the
warrior was to do after. Not a few that heard it, and that bare him
hate, had gladly fallen upon him: the king also, had not honour forbidden
him. Ill had Hagen sped. Yet soon he did worse: he slew his child
before his eyes.

Thirty-Second Adventure

How Bloedel Fought With Dankwart in the Hall

Bloedel's knights all stood ready. With a thousand hauberks they went
where Dankwart sat at table with the yeomen. Grim was soon the hate
between the heroes.

When Sir Bloedel strode up to the table, Dankwart the marshal greeted him
fair. "Welcome to this house, Sir Bloedel. What news dost thou bring?"

"Greet me not," said Bloedel. "My coming meaneth thy death, because of
Hagen, thy brother, that slew Siegfried. Thou and many another knight
shall pay for it."

"Nay now, Sir Bloedel," said Dankwart. "So might we well rue this
hightide. I was a little child when Siegfried lost his life. I know not
what King Etzel's wife hath against me."

"I can tell thee nothing, save that thy kinsmen, Gunther and Hagen, did
it. Now stand on your defence, ye homeless ones. Ye must die, for your
lives are forfeit to Kriemhild."

"Dost thou persist?" said Dankwart. "Then it irketh me that I asked it.
I had better have spared my words."

The good knight and bold sprang up from the table, and drew a sharp
weapon that was mickle and long, and smote Bloedel a swift blow
therewith, that his head, in its helmet, fell at their feet.

"That be thy wedding-gift to Nudung's bride, that thou thoughtest to
win!" he cried. "Let them mate her to-morrow with another man; if he ask
the dowry, he can have the like." A faithful Hun had told him that
morning, secretly, that the queen plotted their doom.

When Bloedel's men saw their master lying slain, they endured it no
longer, but fell with drawn swords in grim wrath on the youths. Many
rued it later.

Loud cried Dankwart to the squires and the yeo