good cometh of our
journey to this hightide."

She answered, "Let him that is glad to see thee welcome thee. I will not
greet thee as a friend. What bringest thou for me from Worms, beyond the
Rhine, that thou shouldst be so greatly welcome?"

"This is news," said Hagen, "that knights should bring thee gifts. Had I
thought of it, I had easily brought thee something. I am rich enow."

"Tell me what thou hast done with the Nibelung hoard. That, at the
least, was mine own. Ye should have brought it with you into Etzel's
land."

"By my troth, lady, I have not touched the Nibelung hoard this many a
year. My masters bade me sink it in the Rhine. There it must bide till
the day of doom."

Then said the queen, "I thought so. Little hast thou brought thereof,
albeit it was mine own, and held by me aforetime. Many a sad day I have
lived for lack of it and its lord."

"I bring thee the Devil!" cried Hagen. "My shield and my harness were
enow to carry, and my bright helmet, and the sword in my hand. I have
brought thee naught further."

"I speak not of my treasure, because I desire the gold. I have so much
to give that I need not thy offerings. A murder and a double theft--it
is these that I, unhappiest of women, would have thee make good to me."

Then said the queen to all the knights, "None shall bear weapons in this
hall. Deliver them to me, ye knights, that they be taken in charge."

"Not so, by my troth," said Hagen; "I crave not the honour, great
daughter of kings, to have thee bear my shield and other weapons to safe
keeping. Thou art a queen here. My father taught me to guard them
myself."

"Woe is me!" cried Kriemhild. "Why will not Hagen and my brother give up
their shields? They are warned. If I knew him that did it, he should
die."

Sir Dietrich answered wrathfully then, "I am he that warned the noble
kings, and bold Hagen, the man of Burgundy. Do thy worst, thou devil's
wife, I care not!"

Kriemhild was greatly ashamed, for she stood in bitter fear of Dietrich.
She went from him without a word, but with swift and wrathful glances at
her foes.

Then two knights clasped hands--the one was Dietrich, the other Hagen.
Dietrich, the valiant warrior, said courteously, "I grieve to see thee
here, since the queen hath spoken thus."

Hagen of Trony answered, "It will all come right."

So the bold men spake together, and King Etzel saw them, and asked, "I
would know who yonder knight is th