Page:The Nibelungenlied - tr. Shumway - 1909.pdf/373

Rh this. Think on yourselves and on your wrongs. Doth not the death of your kinsmen and all the hardship grieve the minds of you good knights? Alas, what great dole Rüdeger’s death doth give me! Never in all the world hath more of sorrow happed to any man. Ye thought but little on me and on your pain. Whatsoever joy I had, that lieth slain by you. Certes, I never can bewail my kin enow.”

“Forsooth we be not so guilty,” answered Hagen. “Your warriors came to this hall in a large band, armed with care. Methinks the tale hath not been told you rightly.”

“What else should I believe? Hildebrand told me, that when my knights from the Amelung land asked that ye should give up Rüdeger’s corse from out the hall, ye did naught but mock the valiant heroes from above the steps.”

Then spake the king from the Rhine: “They said, that they would fain bear Rüdeger hence, and I bade this be denied them to vex King Etzel, and not thy men, until then Wolfhart began to rail about it.”

Then the hero of Berne made answer: “Fate would have it so. Gunther, most noble king, now through thy courtesie requite me of the wrongs, that have happed to me from thee, and make such amends, brave knight, that I may give thee credit for the deed. Give thyself and thy men to me as hostages, and I will guard you, as best I may, that none here do thee aught among the Huns. Thou shalt find me naught but good and true.”

“Now God forbid,” quoth Hagen, “that two knights give themselves up to thee, that still do stand opposed