,
as Siegfried was called Lord of the Nibelungs on first possessing the
hoard, and for this reason that part of the poem which commences with
the Burgundian acquirement of the treasure was formerly known as the
Nibelungen Not.

The confiscation of the treasure was another sharp wound to Kriemhild,
who appears to have bitterly cherished every hostile act committed
against her by her uncle Hagen and her brothers, and to have secretly
nursed her grievances throughout the remainder of her saddened
existence.

Kriemhild Marries Attila

Thirteen years after the death of Siegfried, Helche, wife of Attila,
or Etzel, King of the Huns, having died, that monarch was desirous
of marrying again, and dispatched his faithful councillor, Ruediger,
Margrave of Bechlarn, to the Burgundian court to ask for the hand of
Kriemhild. Her brethren, only too anxious to be rid of her accusing
presence, gladly consented to the match, but Hagen had forebodings that
if she gained power she would wreak a dreadful vengeance on them all.
But he was overruled, and Ruediger was permitted to interview Kriemhild.
At first she would not hear of the marriage, but when Ruediger expressed
his surprise at the manner in which she was treated in her own country,
and hinted that if she were to wed with Etzel she would be guarded
against such insulting conduct, she consented. But first she made
Ruediger swear to avenge her wrongs, and this he did lightly, thinking
it merely a woman's whim which would pass away after marriage. She
accompanied Ruediger to the court of Etzel, stopping at his castle of
Bechlarn, where dwelt his wife Gotelind and his daughter Dietlinde. The
journey to Vienna is described in detail. At length they met Etzel
at Tulna with twenty-four kings and princes in his train and a mighty
retinue, the greatest guest present being Dietrich of Bern, King of
the Goths, who with his band of Wolfings was sojourning at the court of
Etzel. The nuptials took place at Vienna amid great magnificence, but
through all Kriemhild sorrowed only for Siegfried and brooded long and
darkly on her schemes of vengeance.

Seven years passed, during which Kriemhild won the love of all Etzel's
court. She bore the King a son, Ortlieb, and gained the confidence
and respect of his advisers. Another six years passed, and Kriemhild
believed that the time for vengeance had now arrived. To this end she
induced Etzel to invite her brethren and Hagen to his court at Vienna.
At