e save Uta's children, my noble
brothers, and won they to the air to cool their harness, ye were lost.
Bolder knights were never born into the world."

Then said young Giselher, "Fairest sister mine, right evil I deem it that
thou badest me across the Rhine to this bitter woe. How have I deserved
death from the Huns? I was ever true to thee, nor did thee any hurt. I
rode hither, dearest sister, for that I trusted to thy love. Needs must
thou show mercy."

"I will show no mercy, for I got none. Bitter wrong did Hagen of Trony
to me in my home yonder, and here he hath slain my child. They that came
with him must pay for it. Yet, if ye will deliver Hagen captive, I will
grant your prayer, and let you live; for ye are my brothers, and the
children of one mother. I will prevail upon my knights here to grant a
truce."

"God in Heaven forbid!" cried Gernot. "Though we were a thousand, liefer
would we all die by thy kinsmen, than give one single man for our
ransom. That we will never do."

"We must perish then," said Giselher; "but we will fall as good knights.
We are still here; would any fight with us? I will never do falsely by
my friend."

Cried bold Dankwart too (he had done ill to hold his peace), "My brother
Hagen standeth not alone. They that have denied us quarter may rue it
yet. By my troth, ye will find it to your cost."

Then said the queen, "Ye heroes undismayed, go forward to the steps and
avenge our wrong. I will thank you forever, and with cause. I will
requite Hagen's insolence to the full. Let not one of them forth at any
point, and I will let kindle the hall at its four sides. So will my
heart's dole be avenged."

Etzel's knights were not loth. With darts and with blows they drave back
into the house them that stood without. Loud was the din; but the
princes and their men were not parted, nor failed they in faith to one
another.

Etzel's wife bade the hall be kindled, and they tormented the bodies of
the heroes with fire. The wind blew, and the house was soon all aflame.
Folk never suffered worse, I ween. There were many that cried, "Woe is
me for this pain! Liefer had we died in battle. God pity us, for we are
all lost. The queen taketh bitter vengeance."

One among them wailed, "We perish by the smoke and the fire. Grim is our
torment. The stark heat maketh me so athirst, that I die."

Said Hagen of Trony, "Ye noble knights and good, let any that are athirst
drink the