sheath an edging of red. That it was Siegfried's, Kriemhild knew
full well. She must needs grow sad when that she knew the sword, for it
minded her of her wrongs; she began to weep. I ween bold Hagen had done
it for this cause. Folker, the bold, drew nearer to the bench a fiddle
bow, strong, mickle, and long, like unto a broad, sharp sword, and there
the two lusty knights sate undaunted. These two brave men did think
themselves so lordly, that they would not leave their seats through fear
of any man. The noble queen walked therefore to their very feet and gave
them hostile greeting. She spake: "Now tell me, Hagen, who hath sent for
you, that ye durst ride hither to this land, sith ye know full well what
ye have done me? Had ye good wits, ye should have left it undone, by
rights."

"No one sent for me," quoth Hagen. "Men bade to this land three knights,
who hight my lords. I am their liegeman, and full seldom have I stayed
behind when they journeyed to any court."

Quoth she: "Now tell me further, why ye did this, through the which ye
have earned my hate? Ye slew Siegfried, my dear husband, for which I
have cause enow to weep until mine end."

Quoth he: "What booteth more, enow is already said. It is just I, Hagen,
who slew Siegfried, a hero of his hands. How sorely did he atone that
Lady Kriemhild railed at comely Brunhild. 'Tis not to be denied, O
mighty queen, I alone am to blame for this scathful scathe. (1) Let him
avenge it who will, be he wife or man. Unless be I should lie to you, I
have dons you much of harm."

Quoth she: "Now hear, ye knights, how he denieth no whit of my wrongs.
Men of Etzel, I care not what hap to him from this cause."

The proud warriors all gazed at one another. Had any began the fight,
it would have come about that men must have given the honors to the two
comrades, for they had oft wrought wonders in the fray. What the Huns
had weened to do must now needs be left undone through fear.

Then spake one of the men-at-arms: "Why gaze ye thus at me? What I afore
vowed, I will now give over. I will lose my life for no man's gift.
Forsooth King Etzel's wife would fain lead us into wrong."

Quoth another hard by: "Of the selfsame mind am I. An' any give me
towers of good red gold, I would not match this fiddler, for his fearful
glances, the which I have seen him cast. Hagen, too, I have known from
his youthful days, wherefore men can tell me little of this knight.
I have seen him fight in