Page:The lay of the Nibelungs; (IA nibelungslay00hortrich).pdf/437

XXXVI.]

“To thee I e’er was faithful, I never did thee hurt.

And on the understanding I hither rode to court

That thou, most noble sister, wert well-disposed to me,

Be merciful towards us: not elsewise can it be!”

“I cannot show you mercy; unmerciful am I.

For me hath Tronian Hagen wrought so much misery

It may not be atoned for as long as I have life.

Ye all must pay the forfeit;” so answer’d Etzel’s wife.

“Yet will ye Hagen only to me as hostage give,

I will not say for certain I may not let you live,—

Seeing ye are my brothers and of one mother bred;—

Then with these chiefs assembled I may of pardon rede.”

“Now God in Heaven forefend it!” Gernot in answer said:

“Were there a thousand of us, we sooner all were dead—

Though of thy kith and kindred— ere we gave up to thee

A single man as hostage: nay, that can never be.”

“Then are we doom’d to perish!” made answer Giselher;

“Yet no one shall deprive us of any knightly gear.

Here, as before, abide we, would any us assail,

For ne’er to any comrade did I in fealty fail.”

Then spake the gallant Dankwart (by him ’twas meetly done):

“In sooth my brother Hagen standeth not yet alone!

They who a truce deny us may yet have cause to rue;

Of that we’ll make you certain,— take ye my word as true!”