Page:The lay of the Nibelungs; (IA nibelungslay00hortrich).pdf/477

XXXIX.]

“Beware, Gunther and Hagen,” then Dietrich answer made,

“How ye refuse my offer! ye twain on me have laid

So sore a load of sorrow— on heart and spirit too;

If ye amends will make me, that may ye cheaply do.

“I give you my true promise, and pledge it with my hand,

That I myself will with you ride home unto your land;

I’ll guide you in all honour, or will myself be slain,

And will, the while I serve you, forget my bitter pain.”

“Now think thereon no longer,” Hagen in answer bade,

“’Twere not a fitting story about us to be said,

That two such doughty warriors had bow’d to your demand:

One sees beside you standing no one save Hildebrand.”

Then upspake Master Hildebrand: “Sir Hagen, God doth know,—

Seeing that one hath offer’d to make a peace with you,—

The hour is nigh when fitly the offer you might take:

The peace my lord proposes ’twere well for you to make.”

“I’d sooner make atonement,” in answer Hagen said,

“Ere in such coward fashion from any place I fled

las thou hast done but lately, good Master Hildebrand!

Methought against a foeman thou couldst more boldly stand!”

Old Hildebrand made answer:  “Why taunt’st thou me therefor?

Who sat upon his buckler the Vaske-rock before,

While friends of his so many the Spanish Walther slew?

About thyself in plenty are things that one might shew.”