ar one."

He writhed in his bitter anguish, and spake painfully, "Ye shall rue this
foul deed in the days to come. Know this of a truth, that in slaying me
ye have slain yourselves."

The flowers were all wet with blood. He strove with death, but not for
long, for the weapon of death cut too deep. And the bold knight and good
spake no more.

When the warriors saw that the hero was dead, the laid him on a shield of
ruddy gold, and took counsel how they should conceal that Hagen had done
it. Many of them said, "Evil hath befallen us. Ye shall all hide it,
and hold to one tale--when Kriemhild's husband was riding alone in the
forest, robbers slew him."

But Hagen of Trony said, "I will take him back to Burgundy. If she that
hath troubled Brunhild know it, I care not. It concerneth me little if
she weep."

Of that very brook where Siegfried was slain ye shall hear the truth from
me. In the Odenwald is a village that hight Odenheim, and there the
stream runneth still; beyond doubt it is the same.

Seventeenth Adventure

How Siegfried Was Mourned and Buried

They tarried there that night, and then crossed the Rhine. Heroes never
went to so woeful a hunt. For one thing that they slew, many women wept,
and many a good knight's body paid for it. Of overweening pride ye shall
hear now, and grim vengeance.

Hagen bade them bear dead Siegfried of the Nibelung land before the
chamber where Kriemhild was, and charged the to lay him secretly outside
the door, that she might find him there when she went forth to mass or it
was day, the which she was wont to do.

The minster bell was rung as the custom was. Fair Kriemhild waked her
maidens, and bade them bring her a light and her vesture.

Then a chamberlain came and found Siegfried. He saw him red with blood,
and his garment all wet, but he knew not yet that he was his king. He
carried the light into the room in his hand, and from him Kriemhild heard
evil tidings.

When she would have gone with her women to the minster, the chamberlain
said, "Lady, stop! A murdered knight lieth on the threshold."

"Woe is me!" cried Kriemhild. "What meanest thou by such news?"

Or she knew for certain that it was her husband, she began to think on
Hagen's question, how he might guard him. From that moment her dole
began; for, with his death, she took leave of all joy. She sank on the
floor speechless; they saw the miserable woman lying there. Kriemhild's
woe was