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When noble Dietrich saw them their way towards him make,

Perchance ye fain would hearken to what the warrior spake

Unto the sons of Uté. Their journey grieved him sore:

The truth, he thought, Sir Rüdeger had known and told before.

“Be welcome, sirs, right welcome, Gunther and Giselher,

And Gernot, too, and Hagen; and, not the less, Volker

And swift and ready Dankwart! Have ye not understood

That o’er her Niblung hero Kriemhilda yet doth brood?”

“Then let her brood for ever!” Hagen in answer said,

“For many a long year is it since he was stricken dead.

To love the King of Hunsland is now her duty plain:

Siegfried hath long been buried; he comes not back again.”

“Now let us, an’ it please you, leave Siegfried’s wounds alone;

Whilst Dame Kriemhilda liveth evil may still be done.”

So did the noble Dietrich, the knight of Bern, declare.

“Thou Mainstay of the Niblungs, to guard thyself beware!”

“And wherefore should I guard me?” the high-born king replied;

“Tidings we had from Etzel (what should I ask beside?)

That, came we hither riding, ’twould give him much content

My sister Kriemhild, likewise, hath many a message sent.”

“If I may give you counsel,” so Hagen to them spake,

“Beg that the noble Dietrich and his good warriors make

Some better declaration of what they have in mind,

And tell us to what humour Dame Kriemhild is inclined.”