kinsmen. Those of them who are born
in after days will be disgraced. Ye have avenged your wrath too sore
upon me. With shame shall ye be parted from all good warriors."

The knights all ran to where he lay slain. For enow of them it was a
hapless day. He was bewailed by those who had aught of loyalty, and
this the brave and lusty knight had well deserved. The king of the
Burgundians bemoaned his death. Quoth the deadly wounded: "There is no
need that he should weep who hath done the damage; he doth merit mickle
blame. It had been better left undone."

Then spake the fierce Hagen: "Forsooth I wot not what ye now bewail. All
our fear and all our woe have now an end. We shall find scant few who
dare withstand us now. Well is me, that to his rule I have put an end."

"Ye may lightly boast you," Siegfried then replied. "Had I wist your
murderous bent, I had well guarded my life against you. None doth rue
me so sore as Lady Kriemhild, my wife. Now may God have pity that I
ever had a son to whom the reproach will be made in after days, that his
kindred have slain a man with murderous intent. If I might," so spake
Siegfried, "I should rightly make complaint of this." Piteously the
deadly wounded spake again: "Noble king, if ye will keep your troth to
any in the world, then let my dear love be commended to your grace and
let it avail her that she be your sister. For the sake of your princely
courtesie protect her faithfully. My father and my men must wait long
time for me. Never was woman sorer wounded in a loving friend."

The flowers on every side were wot with blood. With death he struggled,
but not for long, sith the sword of death had cut him all too sorely.
Then the lusty warrior and a brave could speak no more.

When the lordlings saw that the knight was dead, they laid him on a
shield of ruddy gold and took counsel how they might conceal that Hagen
had done the deed. Enow of them spake: "Ill hath it gone with us. Ye
must all hide it and aver alike that robbers slew Kriemhild's husband as
he rode alone a-hunting through the pine wood."

Then Hagen of Troneg spake: "I'll bring him home; I care not if it be
known to her, for she hath saddened Brunhild's heart. Little doth it
trouble me however much she weep."

ENDNOTES:
(1) "Lion." It is hardly necessary to state that lions did not
roam at large in the forests of Germany. They were,
however, frequently exhibited in the Middle Ages, and the