-day."

When Sir Bloedel heard the guerdon, and that the lady through her beauty
would befit him well, he weened to serve the lovely queen in strife.
Because of this the champion must needs lose his life. To the queen
he spake: "Betake you again to the hall, and before any be aware,
I'll begin a fray and Hagen must atone for what he hath done you. I'll
deliver to you King Gunther's liegeman bound. Now arm you, my men,"
spake Bloedel. "We must hasten to the lodgings of the foes, for King
Etzel's wife doth crave of me this service, wherefore we heroes must
risk our lives."

When the queen left Bloedel in lust of battle, she went to table with
King Etzel and his men. Evil counsels had she held against the guests.
Since the strife could be started in no other wise (Kriemhild's ancient
wrong still lay deep buried in her heart), she bade King Etzel's son
be brought to table. How might a woman ever do more ghastly deed for
vengeance' sake? Four of Etzel's men went hence anon and bare Ortlieb,
(6) the young prince, to the lordings' table, where Hagen also sat.
Because of this the child must needs die through Hagen's mortal hate.

When now the mighty king beheld his son, kindly he spake to the kinsmen
of his wife: "Now see, my friends, this is the only son of me and of
your sister. This may be of profit to you all, for if he take after
his kinsmen, he'll become a valiant man, mighty and noble, strong and
fashioned fair. Twelve lands will I give him, and I live yet a while.
Thus may the hand of young Ortlieb serve you well. I do therefore
beseech you, dear friends of mine, that when ye ride again to your
lands upon the Rhine, ye take with you your sister's son and act full
graciously toward the child, and bring him up in honor till he become
a man. Hath any done you aught in all these lands, he'll help you to
avenge it, when he groweth up."

This speech was also heard by Kriemhild, King Etzel's wife.

"These knights might well trust him," quoth Hagen, "if he grew to be a
man, but the young prince doth seem so fey, (7) that I shall seldom be
seen to ride to Ortlieb's court."

The king glanced at Hagen, for much the speech did irk him; and though
the gentle prince said not a word, it grieved his heart and made him
heavy of his mood. Nor was Hagen's mind now bent on pastime. But all the
lordings and the king were hurt by what Hagen had spoken of the child;
it vexed them sore, that they were forced to hear it. They wot not the