t forth the stores that lay
therein. Kriemhild now began to open up her treasure rooms, she fain
would make all Rudeger's liegemen rich. Of the gold from the Nibelung
land she still had such store that a hundred horses might not bear it;
she weened her hand should deal it out among the Huns.

This tale Hagen heard told of Kriemhild. He spake: "Sith Kriemhild will
not become my friend, so Siegfried's gold must stay behind. For why
should I give to my foes such great store of goods? Well I wot what
Kriemhild will do with this hoard. I can well believe, an' she take it
with her, that it will be doled out to call forth hate against me. Nor
have they steeds enow to bear it hence. Hagen doth intend to keep it,
pray tell Kriemhild that."

When that she heard this tale, it irked her sore. It was likewise told
to all three kings. Fain would they have changed it, but as this did not
hap, the noble Rudeger spake full blithely: "Mighty queen, why mourn ye
for the gold? King Etzel doth bear you such great love, that when his
eyes do light upon you, such store he'll give you that ye can never
spend it all; this will I swear to you, my lady."

Then spake the queen: "Most noble Rudeger, never hath king's daughter
gained such wealth as that, of which Hagen hath bereft me."

Then came her brother Gernot to the treasure chamber. By leave of the
king in the door he thrust the key. Kriemhild's gold was handed forth, a
thousand marks or more. He bade the strangers take it; much this pleased
King Gunther.

Then spake Gotelind's knight from Bechelaren: "And had my Lady Kriemhild
all the hoard that was brought from the Nibelung land, little of it
would mine or the queen's hand touch. Now bid them keep it, for I will
none of it. Forsooth I brought from home such store of mine that we can
lightly do without this on the road, for we be furnished for the journey
in full lordly wise."

Aforr this her maids had filled twelve chests at leisure with the very
best of gold that anywhere might be. This they took with them and great
store of women's trinkets, which they should wear upon the road. Her
thought too great the might of Hagen. Of her gold for offerings (7) she
had still a thousand marks. For her dear husband's soul she dealt it
out. This Rudeger thought was done in faithful love. Then spake the
mournful lady: "Where be now my friends who for my sake would live in
exile? Let those who would ride with me to the Hunnish land, take now my
tre