rn
back, till it be known to me. I also am a warrior and was to wear a
crown. Fain would I bring it to pass that it may be said of me: Rightly
doth he rule both folk and land. Of this shall my head and honor be a
pledge. Now be ye so bold, as hath been told me, I reck not be it
lief or loth to any man, I will gain from you whatso ye have--land and
castles shall be subject to my hand."

The king had likewise his men had marvel at the tidings they here heard,
that he was willed to take from them their land. The knights waxed
wroth, as they heard this word. "How have I earned this," spake Gunther,
the knight, "that we should lose by the force of any man that which my
father hath rules so long with honor? We should let it ill appear that
we, too, are used in knightly ways."

"In no wise will I desist," spake again the valiant man. "Unless it be
that through thy strength thy land have peace, I will rule it all. And
shouldst thou gain, by thy strength, my ancestral lands, they shall
be subject to thy sway. Thy lands, and mine as well, shall lie alike;
whether of us twain can triumph over the other, him shall both land and
people serve."

Hagen and Gernot, too, straightway gainsaid this. "We have no wish,"
spake Gernot, "that we should conquer aught of lands, or that any man
lie dead at hero's hands. We have rich lands, which serve us, as is
meet, nor hath any a better claim to them than we."

There stood his kinsmen, grim of mood; among them, too, Ortwin of Metz.
"It doth irk me much to hear these words of peace," spake he; "the
mighty Siegfried hath defied you for no just cause. Had ye and your
brothers no meet defense, and even if he led a kingly troop, I trow well
so to fight that the daring man have good cause to leave this haughty
mien."

At this the hero of Netherland grew wonderly wroth. He spake: "Thy hand
shall not presume against me. I am a mighty king, a king's vassal thou.
Twelve of thy ilk durst not match me in strife."

Then Ortwin of Metz called loudly for swords. Well was he fit to be
Hagen of Troneg's sister's son. It rued the king that he had held his
peace so long. Then Gernot, the bold and lusty knight, came in between.
He spake to Ortwin: "Now give over thy anger. Lord Siegfried hath done
us no such wrong, but that we may still part the strife in courteous
wise. Be advised of me and hold him still as friend; far better will
this beseem us."

Then spake the doughty Hagen: "It may well grieve us an