Page:The Nibelungenlied - tr. Shumway - 1909.pdf/316

258 When now the mighty king beheld his son, kindly he spake to the kinsmen of his wife: “Now see, my friends, this is the only son of me and of your sister. This may be of profit to you all, for if he take after his kingmen, he’ll become a valiant man, mighty and noble, strong and fashioned fair. Twelve lands will I give him, and I live yet a while. Thus may the hand of young Ortlieb serve you well. I do therefore beseech you, dear friends of mine, that when ye ride again to your lands upon the Rhine, ye take with you your sister’s son and act full graciously toward the child, and bring him up in honor till he become a man. Hath any done you aught in all these lands, he’ll help you to avenge it, when he groweth up.”

This speech was also heard by Kriemhild, King Etzel’s wife.

“These knights might well trust him,” quoth Hagen, “if he grew to be a man, but the young prince doth seem so fey, that I shall seldom be seen to ride to Ortlieb’s court.”

The king glanced at Hagen, for much the speech did irk him; and though the gentle prince said not a word, it grieved his heart and made him heavy of his mood. Nor was Hagen’s mind now bent on pastime. But all the lordings and the king were hurt by what Hagen had spoken of the child; it vexed them sore, that they were forced to hear it. They wot not the things as yet, which should happen to them through this warrior.