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“Yet, no less am I anxious when he in fight doth stand

And javelins fly around him from many a hero’s hand,

Lest by mischance I lose him, and mourn my husband dear.

Alas, what sorrow have I for Siegfried’s sake to bear!

“I’ll tell it as a favour, my dearest friend, to thee,—

In faith that thou maintainest the pledge thou gav’st to me,—

Where, only, may be wounded this husband dear of mine,

I’ll let thee hear, confiding unto no ear but thine.

“When from the dragon’s death-wounds came pouring the hot blood

And therein he was bathing himself, the warrior good,—

There fell between his shoulders a large-sized linden-leaf:

On that spot one may wound him; ’tis this doth cause my grief.”

Then spake Hagen of Tronjé: “Upon his garment sew

A little token for me, that I the spot may know

Where I have got to shield him, when we stand in the strife.”

She thought to save the hero: by this he lost his life.

She spake: “With fine silk will I upon his garment sew

A little cross unnoticed, that so thy hand may know,

O hero, where to guard him, when into fight he goes,

And in the stress of battle he stands before his foes.”

“That will I do,” quoth Hagen, “my lady dear.” Whereon

The lady thought some vantage she for her lord had won:

And yet Kriemhilda’s husband was by this means betray’d.

His leave then took Sir Hagen, and went away right glad.