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XXXI.]

To her then answer’d Bloedel: “Lady, be sure of this,

To them, for fear of Etzel, I dare do naught amiss,

Since he thy kinsmen happy is ever fain to see.

And did I aught to hurt them, he ne’er would pardon me.”

“Nay, rather, my lord Bloedel, your friend I’ll ever be.

Guerdon of gold and silver I will bestow on thee;

And eke a lovely damsel— Nudung’s betrothéd bride—

Whom thou mayst love and cherish right gladly at thy side.

“The land, too, and the castles, all unto thee I give;

So, noble knight, thou mayest in gladness ever live,

If thou but winn’st the earldom which Nudung held in fee.

Whate’er to-day I promise, in truth I’ll give to thee.”

When now the noble Bloedel the guerdon heard her tell,

And seeing that the damsel in beauty pleased him well,

By means of strife he purposed to earn this lovely wife:

But for that cause the warrior was doom’d to lose his life.

Unto the queen then spake he: “Within the hall go back:

Ere any guess my purpose, an uproar I will make.

Hagen will have to answer for what to you he wrought;

King Gunther’s man, I warrant, shall bound to you be brought.”

“Now arm yourselves,” cried Bloedel, “my gallant liegemen all!

We will upon the foemen within the hostel fall;

I may not be acquitted of this by Etzel’s wife.

On this must every hero among us stake his life.”