My friends and I have come to. Meanwhile for you ’twere best
To go unto your hostel, and may ye have good rest.”
1451
But Werbelin spake further: “If such a thing might be,
Fain would we have permission my lady first to see—
I mean the mighty Uté— before our rest we seek.
Then Giselher the noble in courtly wise did speak:
1452
“That no man shall deny you; and if to her ye go,
Ye will my mother’s pleasure right well accomplish so:
For gladly will she see ye; and for my sister’s sake,
The Lady Kriemhild namely, you welcome will she make.”
1453
So Giselher he brought them to where they found the dame.
With joy she saw the heralds who from the Huns’ land came;
And heartily did greet them, so kindly was her mood.
Then told they her the tidings those courtly heralds good.
1454
Spake Schwemmelin in this wise: “My lady sends to thee
Her faithful love and duty; and if it so might be
That she could see you often, she bids you to believe
That in this world would nothing more gladness to her give.”
1455
Whereto the queen made answer: “Alas, it may not be!
Often as I am longing my daughter dear to see,
Too distant dwelleth from me your noble monarch’s wife.
May she and Etzel ever be blesséd in their life.
1456
“But ye must give me warning, ere from this place ye fare,
When ye will be returning; for heralds saw I ne’er
For long days past so gladly, as I have look’d on you.”
The squires then gave their promise her will therein to do.
1457
And so unto their hostel the men from Hunsland went.
Meanwhile for friends and kinsmen the mighty king had sent.
The noble Gunther question put unto every man
What thought he of the matter. And many then began
1458
To say that he might fairly ride unto Etzel’s land.
So counsell’d him the warriors who did around him stand,
Excepting only Hagen— to whom ’twas bitter woe.
He told the king in secret: “Thou wilt thyself undo.
1459
“Thou know’st as well as I do what thing we wrought of yore:
Needs must we of Kriemhilda be fearful evermore,
Seeing I slew her husband, and that with mine own hand.
How durst we take this journey and ride to Etzel’s land?”
1460
Then spake the mighty Gunther: “My sister’s wrath was spent.
Pardon to us she granted, ere from this place she went,
With kisses of forgiveness, for what to her was done:
Unless, it may be, Hagen, that thee she hates alone.”
1461
“Be not deceived,” said Hagen, “whate’er the message be
The envoys bring from Hunsland. Would you Kriemhilda see,
Be well prepared to forfeit your honour and your life:
Long-waiting in her vengeance is she, King Etzel’s wife.”
1462
Thereon the princely Gernot unto the council said:
“Because that thou with reason to lose thy life dost dread
Within the Huns’ dominions, must we then lay aside
This plan to see our sister? right ill would that betide.”
1463
Prince Giselher then also spake thus unto the knight:
“Since thou, friend Hagen, knowest thou art the guilty wight,
So stay thou here in safety and of thyself take care,
And let, with us, the bold ones unto my sister fare.”
1464
With wrath began to kindle the warrior of Tronjé:
“I will not have another go with you on your way,
Who dares than I more boldly on this court-ride to go.
Since ye will not be hinder’d, that will I let you know.”
1465
Then spake the kitchen-master, Rumold the worthy thane:
“Here friends and strangers can ye right easily maintain
As ye yourselves are willing: your stores are full, I trow;
And ne’er, I ween, hath Hagen betray’d you hitherto.
1466
“If ye will heed not Hagen, Rumold now counsels you—
And I have ever served you with love and service true—
That here ye fain should tarry, out of good will to me,
And let King Etzel yonder along with Kriemhild be.
1467
“How otherwise in this world could ye e’er better live?
In spite of all your foemen here may you right well thrive;
You may your bodies freely with raiment rich endue,
And wine drink of the choicest, and winsome maidens woo.
1468
“Meats, too, are set before ye— the best that e’er were brought
To any king in this world; and if this all were naught,
You should, methinks, remain here for sake of your fair wife—
Ere in such childish fashion you seek to risk your life.
1469
“I counsel your abiding: rich is your heritage.
At home can vassals better to you redeem their pledge
Than yonder ’mid the Hunfolk. Who knows how things be there?
My lords, go ye not thither: thus Rumold doth declare!”
1470
Thereunto answer’d Gernot: “Here will we tarry not,
Since we such friendly bidding have from my sister got,
And from the mighty Etzel. Why put the thing aside?
Who goes not gladly with us may e’en at home abide.”
1471
And thereto answer’d Hagen: “See lest ye take amiss
The words that I have spoken, howe’er ye do in this.
I give you faithful counsel: as ye regard your life,
Go well-arm’d to the Hunfolk, as if for battle-strife.
1472
“Will ye not be dissuaded, so send ye for your men,
The best that ye can muster or any way can gain;
And from them all I’ll choose ye a thousand warriors good:
So may ye fear no evil from angry Kriemhild’s mood.”
1473
“That rede I’ll gladly follow,” the king in answer said.
Then sent he heralds riding, who through his kingdom sped.
And so they brought the warriors, three thousand men or more.
They dreamt not of the evil that lay for them in store.
1474
All through the lands of Gunther right joyously they rode.
On every man a charger and raiment were bestow’d—
Of those who were to journey away from Burgundy.
A goodly number follow’d the king right willingly.
1475
Then Hagen, lord of Tronjé, his brother Dankwart bade
The four score knights who served them unto the Rhine to lead.
They came in knightly order; with arms and wearing gear
Within King Gunther’s borders right soon did they appear.
1476
Now came the gallant Volker— a high-born minstrel he—
To join with thirty liegemen the royal company.
Such splendid raiment had they, a king had worn it well.
That he would ride to Hunsland, to Gunther bade he tell.
1477
Now who was this same Volker I fain would let you know:
He was of noble lineage; to him did fealty owe
In the Burgundian country, full many a noble knight.
Because he play’d the fiddle he was the Minstrel hight.
1478
Then Hagen chose the thousand: they were to him well-known;
And what in hard-fought battles their strength of hand had done,
And all they e’er had ventured, that had he seen full well.
No man of aught save valour in all their deeds could tell.
1479
The envoys of Kriemhilda were sore discomfited,
For they of both their rulers the wrath began to dread;
And leave they daily sought for, that they might thence begone.
But Hagen would not grant it: through cunning that
