ietrich of Bern, one of the heroes of the poem, and it is under his
escort that the king and queen of Hungary proceed to Vienna, where
their marriage festivities last seventeen days.

_23d Adventure._ Seven years elapse, and, although Kriemhild has a son
by Etzel, she still grieves for Siegfried and continually broods over
her wrongs. One day she suddenly suggests that King Etzel invite her
kinsmen to Hungary, and, when he consents, gives special instructions
to the bards who bear the message to make sure that Hagen accompanies
her brothers.

_24th Adventure._ After fourteen days' journey the minstrels reach
Worms and deliver their message. All are in favor of accepting this
invitation save Hagen, who remarks that such friendliness seems
suspicious. When his master retorts a guilty conscience harbors fear,
Hagen stoutly avers he is ready to serve as guide, suggesting,
however, that they journey fully armed, with an escort of a thousand
men, so as to cope with treachery should such occur.

"Turn, while there's time for safety, turn, warriors most and least;
For this, and for this only, you're bidden to the feast,
That you perforce may perish in Etzel's bloody land.
Whoever rideth thither, Death has he close at hand."

_25th Adventure._ Dismissed with the old queen's blessing, the
Burgundians leave Brunhild and her son in charge of a steward, and set
out. As they are now sole possessors of the great Nibelung hoard, the
poet terms them Nibelungs in the remainder of his work. Under the
guidance of Hagen, who alone knows the way, the party reaches the
banks of the Danube, where, finding no vessels to ferry them across,
Hagen bids them wait until he provide means of transportation. Walking
down the river, he surprises three swan-maidens bathing, and by
capturing their garments induces them to predict the future. Although
one promises him all manner of pleasant things to recover her plumes,
her companions, having secured theirs, warn Hagen that none but the
priest will return safely to Burgundy, and inform him that he can
secure a boat by assuring the ferry-man on the opposite bank that his
name is Amalung.

Thanks to this hint, Hagen induces the ferry-man to cross the river
and springs into his boat, before the man, discovering the trick,
attacks him with his oar. Forced to defend himself, Hagen slays the
ferry-man, takes possession of his boat, and then proceeds to convey
relays of the Burgundian army across th