Page:The Nibelungenlied - tr. Shumway - 1909.pdf/193

Rh me. Never was woman sorer wounded in a loving friend.”

The flowers on every side were wot with blood. With death he struggled, but not for long, sith the sword of death had cut him all too sorely. Then the lusty warrior and a brave could speak no more.

When the lordlings saw that the knight was dead, they laid him on a shield of ruddy gold and took counsel how they might conceal that Hagen had done the deed. Enow of them spake: “Ill hath it gone with us. Ye must all hide it and aver alike that robbers slew Kriemhild’s husband as he rode alone a-hunting through the pine wood.”

Then Hagen of Troneg spake: “I’ll bring him home; I care not if it be known to her, for she hath saddened Brunhild’s heart. Little doth it trouble me however much she weep.”