en full merrily from his guests. Men pressed the
strangers on every side, at which brave Folker spake to the Huns: "How
dare ye crowd before the warriors' feet? An' ye will not leave this, ye
will fare full ill. I'll smite some man so heavy a fiddle blow, that
if he have a faithful friend he may well bewail it. Why give ye not way
before us knights? Methinks 'twere well. All pass for knights, but be
not of equal mettle."

As the fiddler spake thus in wrath, Hagen, the brave, looked behind him.
He spake: "The bold gleeman doth advise you right, ye men of Kriemhild,
ye should hie you to your lodgings. I ween none of you will do what ye
are minded, but would ye begin aught, come early on the morrow, and
let us wanderers have peace to-night. Certes, I ween that it hath never
happed with such good will on the part of heroes."

Then the guests were brought into a spacious hall, which they found
purveyed on every side with costly beds, long and broad, for the
warriors. Lady Kriemhild planned the very greatest wrongs against them.
One saw there many a cunningly wrought quilt from Arras (1) of shining
silken cloth and many a coverlet of Arabian silk, the best that might be
had; upon this ran a border that shone in princely wise. Many bed covers
of ermine and of black sable were seen, beneath which they should have
their ease at night, until the dawn of day. Never hath king lain so
lordly with his meiny.

"Alas for these night quarters," spake Giselher, the youth, "and alas
for my friends, who be come with us. However kindly my sister greeted
us, yet I do fear me that through her fault we must soon lie dead."

"Now give over your care," quoth Hagen, the knight. "I'll stand watch
myself to-night. I trow to guard us well, until the day doth come.
Therefore have no fear; after that, let him survive who may."

All bowed low and said him gramercy. Then went they to their beds. A
short while after the stately men had laid them down, bold Hagen, the
hero, began to arm him. Then the fiddler, Knight Folker, spake: "If it
scorn you not, Hagen, I would fain hold the watch with you to-night,
until the early morn."

The hero then thanked Folker in loving wise: "Now God of heaven requite
you, dear Folker. In all my cares, I would crave none other than you
alone, whenever I had need. I shall repay you well, and death hinder me
not."

Both then donned their shining armor and either took his shield in hand,
walked out of the house and sto