and bold, and he caught Hagen of Trony in his
arms. So the valiant many was vanquished. King Gunther grieved sore.

Dietrich bound Hagen, and led him to the queen, and delivered into her
hand the boldest knight that ever bare a sword. After her bitter dole,
she was glad enow. She bowed before the knight for joy. "Blest be thou
in soul and body. Thou hast made good to me all my woe. I will thank
thee till my dying day."

Then said Dietrich, "Let him live, noble queen. His service may yet
atone to thee for what he hath done to thy hurt. Take not vengeance on
him for that he is bound."

She bade them lead Hagen to a dungeon. There he lay locked up, and none
saw him.

Then King Gunther called aloud, "Where is the hero of Bern? He hath done
me a grievous wrong."

Sir Dietrich went to meet him. Gunther was a man of might. He tarried
not, but ran toward him from the hall. Loud was the din of their swords.

Howso famed Dietrich was from aforetime, Gunther was so wroth and so
fell, and so bitterly his foemen, by reason of the wrong he had endured,
that it was a marvel Sir Dietrich came off alive. They were stark and
mighty men both. Palace and towers echoed with their blows, as their
swift swords hewed their good helmets. A high-hearted king was Gunther.

But the knight of Bern overcame him, as he had done Hagen. His blood
gushed from his harness by reason of the good sword that Dietrich
carried. Yet Gunther had defended him well, for all he was so weary.

The knight was bound by Dietrich's hand, albeit a king should never wear
such bonds. Dietrich deemed, if he left Gunther and his man free, they
would kill all they met.

He took him by the hand, and let him before Kriemhild. Her sorrow was
lighter when she saw him. She said, "Thou art welcome, King Gunther."

He answered, "I would thank thee, dear sister, if thy greeting were in
love. But I know thy fierce mind, and that thou mockest me and Hagen."

Then said the prince of Bern, "Most high queen, there were never nobler
captives than these I have delivered here into thy hands. Let the
homeless knights live for my sake."

She promised him she would do it gladly, and good Dietrich went forth
weeping. Yet soon Etzel's wife took grim vengeance, by reason thereof
both the valiant men perished. She kept them in dungeons, apart, that
neither saw the other again till she bore her brother's head to Hagen.
Certes, Kriemhild's vengeance was bitter.