Page:The Nibelungenlied - tr. Shumway - 1909.pdf/342

284 Hagen of Troneg hath done me such great wrongs that it may never be amended, the while I live. Ye must all suffer for this deed,” so spake King Etzel’s wife. “And ye will give me Hagen alone as hostage, I will not deny that I will let you live, for ye be my brothers and children of one mother, and will counsel peace with these heroes that be here.”

“Now God in heaven forbid,” spake Gernot; “were there here a thousand of us, the clansmen of thy kin, we’d rather all lie dead, than give thee a single man as hostage. Never shall this be done.”

“We all must die,” spake then Giselher, “but none shall hinder that we guard us in knightly wise. We be still here, if any list to fight us; for never have I failed a friend in fealty.”

Then spake bold Dankwart (it had not beseemed him to have held his peace): “Forsooth my brother Hagen standeth not alone. It may yet rue those who here refuse the truce. I’ll tell you of a truth, well make you ware of this.”

Then spake the queen: “Ye full lusty heroes, now go nigher to the stairs and avenge my wrongs. For this I will ever serve you, as I should by right. I’ll pay Hagen well for his overweening pride. Let none at all escape from the house, and I will bid the hall be set on fire at all four ends. Thus all my wrongs shall be well avenged.”

Soon were King Etzel’s champions ready. They drove those that still stood without into the hall with blows and shots. Mickle waxed the din, yet the lordings and their liegemen would not part. For very fealty they could not leave each other. Etzel’s queen