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“Now let your mind be easy,” Hagen the thane answer’d:

I will from now till morning myself keep watch and ward;

And well I swear to guard you until the break of day.

Till then be all untroubled; then, save himself who may!”

Then bow’d they all before him and gave him thanks therefore,

And to their beds betook them: nor was it long before

Laid down in rest and slumber was every goodly man.

To don his arms the hero— Hagen the bold—began.

Then up and spake the minstrel, Volker the gallant thane:

“If thou dost not disdain it, then, Hagen, I am fain

To-night to keep guard with thee, until the morning break.”

Right heartily the hero his thanks to Volker spake:

“Now God in Heaven reward you, Volker, my comrade true!

To none in all my troubles save only unto you

Would I for aidance turn me, if need should e’er befall.

One day I will repay you, if Death do not forestall.”

Then in their shining raiment they twain their bodies clad,

And each of them his buckler upon his forearm had.

They went without the castle to stand the gateway by,

And there the guests they guarded: ’twas done right faithfully.

Volker the ever-ready then from his arm unbraced

His shield—it was a good one— which ’gainst the wall he placed.

Back to the hall he hasten’d, and there his fiddle seized,

And as became a hero, his friends therewith he pleased.