m halt, that they might not be parted.
He spake: "Of a truth none knoweth what will hap to us from the Huns.
Place, my friends, your shields before your feet, and if any proffer
you cold greeting, repay it with deep and mortal wounds. That is Hagen's
counsel, that ye may so be found as doth befit your honor."

Folker and Hagen, the twain, then hied them to the spacious minster.
This was done that the queen might press upon them in the crowd. Certes,
she was passing grim. Then came the lord of the land and his fair wife,
her body adorned with rich apparel; Doughty warriors, too, were seen to
walk beside her. One saw the dust rise high from Kriemhild's band. When
mighty Etzel spied the kings and their fellowship thus armed, how quick
he spake: "Why do I see my friends thus go with helmets? Upon my troth,
it grieveth me, and hath any done them aught, I shall gladly make
amends, as doth think them good. Hath any made heavy their hearts or
mood, I'll show them well, that it doth irk me much. I am ready for
whatever they command me."

To this Hagen answered: "None hath done us aught; it is the custom of my
lordings that they go armed at all high feasts for full three days. We
should tell Etzel, had aught been done us."

Kriemhild heard full well what Hagen spake. How right hostilely she
gazed into his eyes! She would not tell the custom of their land, albeit
she had known it long in Burgundy. However grim and strong the hate
she bare them, yet had any told Etzel the truth, he would have surely
hindered what later happed. Because of their great haughtiness they
scorned to tell him. When the great crowd went past with the queen,
these twain, Hagen and Folker, would not step back more than two
hand-breadths, the which irked the Huns. Forsooth they had to jostle
with the lusty heroes. This thought King Etzel's chamberlains not good.
Certes, they would have fain angered the champions, but that they durst
not before the noble king. So there was much jostling, but nothing more.

When they had worshiped God and would hence again, many a Hunnish
warrior horsed him passing soon, At Kriemhild's side stood many a comely
maid, and well seven thousand knights rode with the queen. Kriemhild
with her ladies sate her down at the easements by the side of the mighty
Etzel, which was him lief, for they would watch the lusty heroes joust.
Ho, what stranger knights rode before them in the court! Then was come
the marshal with the squires. Bold