Again Hagen of Troneg spake: "Stand by the sides of the hall. Let not
the firebrands fall upon your helmet bands, but stamp them with your
feet down deeper in the blood. Forsooth it is an evil feast which the
queen doth give us here."

In such dire woes the night did wear away at last, and still the brave
minstrel and his comrade Hagen stood before the hall, a-leaning on their
shields. More scathe they awaited from those of Etzel's band. Then spake
the fiddler: "Now go we into the hall. Then the Huns will ween, that we
all be dead from the torture that hath been done us here. They'll yet
see us go to meet them in the strife."

Now spake Giselher of Burgundy, the youth: "I trow the day dawneth, a
cooling wind doth blow. May God in heaven let us live to see a liefer
time, for my sister Kriemhild hath given us here an evil feast."

Again one spake: "I see the day. Sith we cannot hope for better things,
so arm you, heroes, think on your life. Certes, King Etzel's wife will
come to meet us soon again."

The host weened well, that his guests were dead from their toil and the
pangs of fire; but yet within the hall six hundred brave men, as good as
any knight that king ever gained, were still alive. Those set to guard
the strangers had well seen that the guests still lived, despite the
damage and the dole that had been done both to the lordings and their
men. In the hall one saw them stand full safe and sound. They then told
Kriemhild that many were still alive, but the queen replied: "It could
never be, that any should have lived through such stress of fire. Rather
will I believe that all lie dead."

The lordings and their men would still fain have lived, had any listed
to do them mercy, but they could find none among those of the Hunnish
land. So with full willing hand they avenged their dying. On this same
day, towards morning, men proffered them a fierce attack as greeting,
which brought the champions in stress again. Many a stout spear was
hurled upon them, but the bold and lordly warriors warded them in
knightly wise. High rose the mood of Etzel's men at the thought that
they should earn Queen Kriemhild's gold. Thereto they were minded to
perform whatso the King did bid them. Many of them because of this
must soon needs gaze on death. Of pledges and of gifts one might tell
wonders. She bade the ruddy gold be carried forth on shields and gave
it to whomsoever craved it and would take it. Certes, greater wage was
n